Alana Cayabyab, 10, continued her successful ways at the 2013 Hawaiian Swimming Age Group SCY Championships at the Kona Community Center on the Big Island. “Alana, our star (and sole) representative of Mokihana Aquatics, has had a fantastic weekend,” said
Alana Cayabyab, 10, continued her successful ways at the 2013 Hawaiian Swimming Age Group SCY Championships at the Kona Community Center on the Big Island.
“Alana, our star (and sole) representative of Mokihana Aquatics, has had a fantastic weekend,” said Mokihana coach Jeff Rahill in an email. “As our stellar 10 and Under (competitor), her state qualifying times allowed her to swim eight events, making the finals in six events.”
Cayabyab corralled an 11/12 year-old state qualifying time, a 10 and under zone time, and was a top 10 swimmer overall, finishing tied for eighth place, Anaya said.
Cayabyab opened by making the finals Friday in the 100-meter backstroke, placing seventh on a swim of 1 minute, 16.69 seconds.
Cayabyab continued to make progress on Saturday, making the finals in the 100-meter individual medley against a field of 41 swimmers while trimming nearly five seconds off her seeded time in her fifth place finish at 1:14.91.
Sunday, the final day of the championship meet, Cayabyab performed in her best event — the 100-meter butterfly — where she finished fifth in the finals at 1:15.48.
Cayabyab touched the wall at 2:40.26 in her final race of the meet, the 200 IM, where she trimmed five seconds off her seeded swim for fifth place.
“It has been a long time since I have been to a championship meet with an ear-to-ear smile,” said Mokihana head coach Orlando “O” Anaya. “One spectator commented that my ‘face going broke with happiness’ because of my projected pride — pride in our team. Pride for Alana. Pride for Kauai.”
Anaya attributed Cayabyab’s recent successes to the team’s effort.
“None of Alana’s success would have been possible if not for each and every one of our swimmers, parents and support group,” Anaya said.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
