Three swimmers in eight races each — 24 events — notched top finishes during the 27th Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto ABC Meet in Hilo. Nevaeh Ibanez, 9, Leigh Idica, 8, and Chloe Inouye, 7, were the three Mokihana Aquatics swimmers who
Three swimmers in eight races each — 24 events — notched top finishes during the 27th Charles “Sparky” Kawamoto ABC Meet in Hilo.
Nevaeh Ibanez, 9, Leigh Idica, 8, and Chloe Inouye, 7, were the three Mokihana Aquatics swimmers who made the trip to the Kawamoto Swim Stadium on the Big Island.
“What we witnessed at Sparky’s, which wrapped up Sunday, was so very rare that you would have to compare it with a hole-in-one, or a 29-hand in cribbage,” said Mokihana coach Orlando “O” Anaya. “We witnessed 24 best times and two AA times. We saw something quite spectacular.”
Ibanez, announced by Anaya as the Mokihana Swimmer of the Meet, picked up the two AA time standards, one in the 50 breaststroke (47.25 seconds) where she posted a 6.48-second improvement in her seeded time, and the other in the 100 breaststroke (1 minute, 46.14 seconds) where she was 10.44 seconds better than her seeded time. She finished first and second, respectively in her AA swims.
But Ibanez, finishing with three first finishes, a pair of second finishes, and three third place finishes, posted her greatest improvement in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall at 1:26.81 for an improvement of 15.21 seconds.
“She had all best times across the board, including some amazing improvements with races in double-digit improvements,” Anaya said. “Most would call that perfection — I call that nuts!”
Idica walked out of the stadium with two first finishes, a pair of second finishes and posted her strongest swim in the 50 butterfly (where she finished fourth), touching the wall at 56.11, an improvement of 9.28 seconds.
Inouye posted four first finishes and four second-place finishes, her strongest swim coming in the 50 butterfly where she touched at 49.13 for a 17.74-second improvement over her seeded time.
Anaya said it was the support of the Mokihana Ohana that completed the sweep.
“The support of the families took it over the top,” Anaya said. “Mahalo to coach Jeff Rahill, coach Bo Domingcil, and to all our families and swimmers who made this weekend’s perfection work. Trust me when I say that our three little mermaids would not have been perfect if not for each and every one of you.”
