LIHU‘E — Island School swimmers picked up seven qualifying swims and Kaua‘i High School swimmers picked up another two qualifying swims on Saturday, when the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation held its first qualifying meet of the 2024 season.
Island School seniors Mahina Dameron and Chloe Inouye led the group by qualifying for two events apiece. Dameron and Inouye shared honors by swimming in the girls 200 medley relay that touched the wall in a 2 minute, 4.52 second swim. During the relay, Dameron swam the No. 3 leg, while Inouye swam the second leg.
Dameron also qualified for the 100 butterfly on a 1:05.04 swim, and Inouye’s second qualifying swim came in the 100 freestyle where she stopped the clocks in first place at 56.72.
Hannah Hovland, a sophomore, opened the medley relay and secured a qualifying swim. Taimana Kjeldsen, a junior, anchored the medley relay for a qualifying swim.
Kaua‘i High School senior Talen Koerte broke is own KIF record in qualifying for the state meet in the 100 backstroke. During the Saturday meet, Koerte finished the event in 54.44 seconds bettering the KIF championship record of 57.93.
Red Raiders sophomore Laim Juvan picked up the second qualifying swim for Kaua‘i in the 500 freestyle, in which he touched the wall in 5:20.84.
This Saturday will be the second of three qualifying swims at the YMCA pool starting at 8 a.m.
On Jan. 20, the third qualifying meet will be held ahead of the KIF championship swim meet, which is scheduled for Jan. 27 at the YMCA pool.
The K. Mark Takai Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving 2024 championships will be held on Feb. 9-10 at Kihei Aquatics Center on Maui.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
