LIHUE — Talen “T” Koerte, 9, swam a perfect meet Saturday during the Swim Kauai Aquatics home meet at the YMCA pool. But not only did he show improvements in all five of his events, Koerte earned AAA, or state
LIHUE — Talen “T” Koerte, 9, swam a perfect meet Saturday during the Swim Kauai Aquatics home meet at the YMCA pool.
But not only did he show improvements in all five of his events, Koerte earned AAA, or state qualifying time standards, in four of those events including the 50 yard freestyle (32.53), 200 yard freestyle (2:44.97), 50 yard butterfly (38.83), and the 100 yard backstroke (1:23.42).
Koerte was not alone in swimming a perfect meet, as SKA athletes combined for 94 new personal best times, including 19 new Hawaiian Swimming standards.
The Johnson brothers, Damon, 12, and Kenyon, 14, as well as Lei Sitani, 13, Sadie Stearns, 12, Tia Troate, 12, and Isaac Vallance, 13, also posted perfect meets with new personal best times in their events throughout the day.
“It was a great meet for all our young athletes,” said Curt Colby, the SKA head coach. “I’m very proud of the effort today. We actually divided the swimmers into three teams based on a tri-meet formula to keep everything competitive and exciting. Our B team surged ahead at the end and won by 20 points, earning special medals and big smiles.”
Hawaii AAAA times, representing the average 10th best time of a Hawaiian Swimming athlete in each event and age group over the past four years, saw Stearns pocket one for her 500 yard freestyle (5:43.95). She was joined by Kai Norman, 12, in the 50 yard backstroke (31.91), Hayley Kaeo, 12, in the 200 yard butterfly (2:30.46), and Jack Machorek, 15, coming off a tremendous Kauai Interscholastic Federation season for Kauai High School, earning AAAA honors for the mile, or 1,650 freestyle (17:23.96).
Mao Fukada, 14, earned her very first AAA in the 200 yard breaststroke (2:46.92). She was joined by Julia Safford, 13, earning a state time in the 200 breaststroke (2:45.34), Norman in the 50 yard breaststroke (37.39) and Kaeo in the 200 yard backstroke (2:45.28).
Alana Cayabyab, 13, recently aged up into a new age group and clinched a AA, or invitational time standard, in the 1,650 freestyle (21:39.77).
Swimmers making new A time standards include Mahina Dameron, 9, with three cuts in her 50 yard backstroke (46.75), 50 yard freestyle (36.98), and 100 yard freestyle (1:26.21), Gianna DeTrolio, 14, in the 200 yard Individual Medley (2:48.67), Olivia Lutkevich, 12, in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:35.14), and Isaac Vallance, 13, getting his in the 200 yard freestyle on a 2:28.66 swim.
Swim Kauai Aquatics is a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 to teach swimming skills and proficiency for children on Kauai, encouraging physical fitness and competition through USA Swimming organized events.
