A mixed bag at mixed meet

LIHUE — Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya said the organization’s first mixed events meet finished with “mixed” results.

“Yes, while it is true that we witnessed some of the closest races we have ever had at a trials meet, and with just about all of those close races being decided by ‘blink of an eye’ hundredths of a second, the overall times were slower,” Anaya said. “We also had fast times, Chloe Inouye making a new state qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke, Leigh Idica and Ian Raquel swimming 70 percent best times, and Kamaira Silva, even if swimming only on one day, making 80 percent best times.”

The Keo Nakama Qualifying Meet wrapped up Sunday at the Kauai High School pool. Anaya said deciding on a Swimmer of the Meet honor was a tough job during the last timed trials for the swimming year.

“It came down to two swimmers for the honor,” Anaya said. “Ian is trying for his first Swimmer of the Meet, and Leigh is going for her third. They each had the most best times over the two days at seven apiece; they both swam hard and with passion and determination; both were great.”

Deliberation between the coaches determined that Idica earned the Swimmer of the Meet honor.

“While making the choice was close, Leigh’s two state qualifying times combined with her seven best times settled the toss-up,” Anaya said.

Raquel, finishing with seven best times, finished with one state qualifying time, the 200 freestyle where he touched the wall at 2 minutes, 39.64 seconds, or a 4.38-second improvement over his seeded swim.

Idica picked up state swims in the 100 butterfly (1:24.34) where she touched first for a 2.35 second improvement, and also in the 200 freestyle (2:39.50) where she finished second, and ironically, was not one of her personal best swims.

Madhav Collins-Doijode, 12, hit the water for his first meet, picking up eight new times over the two-day period, being joined by Lincoln Sorenson, 7, who picked up three new swim times.

Alfred Auger, 9, finished with five new best times, his strongest showing coming in the 100 butterfly (1:57.44) where he finished second for a 5.63 second improvement, and Silas Adams, 8, picked up double-digit improvement swims, one in the 100 backstroke (2:52:61) and the other in the 100 freestyle (2:27.19) for improvements of 11.31 and 11.14 seconds, respectively.

Katharine Hoesel, 11, also finished with two double-digit improvements, the first in the 100 backstroke (1:41.17) for a 14.45 second improvement, and the other coming in the 100 butterfly (1:50.43) for a 10.79 second gain.

Madeline Hoesel, 14, who will be swimming for Kapaa High School as a freshman, claimed first finish honors in the 100 butterfly (1:19.00). She posted two personal best swims, the first coming in the 200 freestyle (2:15.82) for a 0.23 second gain, and the other coming in the 100 freestyle (1:01.98) for a 0.11 second gain.

Nevaeh Ibanez, 11, claimed a pair of best swims, the first coming in the 100 backstroke (1:21.84) for a 2.55 second improvement, and the other in the 50 backstroke (37.18) for a 1.95 second improvement.

Inouye, 9, posted three best swims, her strongest coming in the 100 breaststroke where she touched the wall at 1:34.33 for a 2.54 improvement over her seeded swim.

Pavao Kapono, 8, posted seven new swim times, and gained 11.56 seconds in one event, the 200 freestyle where he touched at 5:18.73.

Silva, 11, finished her swimming Sunday with improvements in four of her five events, her strongest showings coming in the 100 breaststroke (1:34.85) where she gained 9.66 and in the 100 butterfly (1:23.74) for a 4.41 gain.

Samantha Stokes, 13, picked up three best swims over five events in one day of swimming, Saturday when she picked up 4.69 in the 200 breaststroke (3:31.66), and a 3.05 gain in the 100 backstroke (1:23.76).

Anaya said the Mokihana Aquatics swim calendar ends in August.