Mokihana Aquatics swimmer Nevaeh (”Heaven” spelled backward) Ibanez picked up new personal best swims in seven of 10 events, including her first state QUAL time standard over the weekend. The feat earned her Swimmer of the Meet honors from the
Mokihana Aquatics swimmer Nevaeh (”Heaven” spelled backward) Ibanez picked up new personal best swims in seven of 10 events, including her first state QUAL time standard over the weekend.
The feat earned her Swimmer of the Meet honors from the Mokihana Aquatics time trials Saturday and Sunday at the Kapaa pool, a new venue for Mokihana Aquatics.
“This was a difficult one to choose because we had some great swimmers in the 8 and Unders, and between Nevaeh, Destry Shibuya, and Sara Funtanilla, the coaches finally decided that the honor went to Nevaeh,” said Mokihana coach Jeff Rahill. “This is her first Swimmer of the Meet honor, getting a new state QUAL time and six invitational AA times, five of them new. To top it off, did you see that last 200 freestyle? Wow!”
Ibanez, picking up first and second place honors through her nine events, splashed through the 200 freestyle in two minutes, 54.53 seconds, an improvement of 12.72 seconds, and an AA time standard.
The 9-year-old also marked improvements in the 50 butterfly (39.73), the 100 backstroke (1:32.57), the 50 yard breaststroke (44.27), the 100 yard freestyle (1:20.29), the 50 yard free (34.69), and the 100 yard breast (1:34.87).
Rahill said he was impressed by how all of the Mokihana new swimmers learned the proper protocol for starting races.
“Racing is a good learning experience,” Rahill said. “It tells us where we really are in terms of what we can do.”
– Funtanilla, 12, earned six new best times, topped by the 200 freestyle where she trimmed 3.98 seconds off her previous swim. She followed that with a 3.39 second improvement in the 100 yard backstroke and a 3.26 second improvement in the 200 yard individual medley.
– Shibuya, 12, marked his best swim in the 200 free (2:44.66) where he posted a 15.71 second improvement in his third place finish. He finished the two days with seven personal bests, including the 200 freestyle.
– Kaedyn Santiago, 7, finished second in the 200 free, but chopped 13.96 seconds off her seeded swim, her best showing.
– Chloe Inouye, 8, posted eight personal bests, her strongest swim coming in the 100 yard backstroke (1:40.81) where she marked an 8.66 second improvement.
