KIF swimmers make state cuts

LIHUE — Kauai Interscholastic Federation swimmers continue to pull in state qualifying swims, three meets into the season.

Led by the Kauai High School swimmers under Kelsey Tanaka Saturday, the Red Raiders pocketed six state qualifying swims led by Zachary Safford finishing with two state swims — 100 butterfly (56.09) and 500 freestyle (5:14.51). Jack Machorek, already pocketing state swims in the two prior meets, added the 500 freestyle (5:04.32) to his collection, and Kaira Kaaihue rounded out the individualists with a state 100 freestyle (58.02).

Akira Williams of Island School was the other individualist claiming a state swim in the 100 freestyle (49.68).

Relay teams from Island School, Kapaa and Kauai high schools rounded out the state swims as the girls 200 medley relay teams’ first, second and third places copped state eligibility for Island, Kapaa and Kauai high schools with swims of 2 minutes, 9.48 seconds for Island followed by Kapaa (2:10.52) and Kauai (2:11.65).

Island School swimmers in the girls 200 medley team include Carolyn Price, Mao Fukada, Athena Alexander and Sterling Bird.

Kapaa swimmers are Tori Hinkel, Heather Faretta, Alana Tamashiro and Lily Stokes, while the Kauai team includes Abby Cox, Ava Wagner, Kaira Kaaihue and Rain Owen.

The boys 400 freestyle relay (3:45.92) belonged to Island School who made its first appearance in the event, and Kauai captured state swim in the boys 200 freestyle relay (1:36.13).

Jackson Evans, Ethan Jeal, Henry Scherer and Akira Willams make up the Voyagers’ boys 400 freestyle relay team.

Kauai swimmers in the boys 200 free relay team include Riley Young, Zachary Safford, Jack Machorek and Asa Hendrickson.

The KIF qualifying swim meet moves to the YMCA pool, hosted by Island School, Saturday starting at 10 a.m.