Kyle Riddle, 10, had a perfect meet in Pearl City over the weekend. “The Mokihana swimmers are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do at this time of our season,” said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya, following the long
Kyle Riddle, 10, had a perfect meet in Pearl City over the weekend.
“The Mokihana swimmers are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do at this time of our season,” said Mokihana Aquatics coach Orlando “O” Anaya, following the long weekend meet on O‘ahu.
Riddle headed up the list of Mokihana swimmers with a perfect meet, improving in each of the four events he qualified for.
His biggest achievement came in the 200 Free at the Ken Suenaga Pearl City Invitational. In that event, Riddle stopped the clock at 3:04.25Y, an 8.21 improvement over his previous time.
“This was his first invitational, and to get a perfect meet? That is awesome,” Anaya said. “There is nothing else to say.”
Kaitlin Santos dealt with back pains and 13 events spread over the three days of the meet. Despite that double handicap, the 12-year-old came up with a personal improvement in the 100 Free, stopping the clock at 1:05.64Y.
“She never gave up,” said Anaya. “This puts her in a perfect position for states. She gets the ‘perseverance award’ in my book.”
Justin White, 10, picked up improvements in four of his 11 races, but beyond that, scored in three of those four races for his first medals and points, said Anaya.
Justin’s best race was the 100 Individual Medley where he got 1:29.53Y for an 8.89 improvement followed by the 100 Back where he hit 1:33.37Y for a 5.06 improvement over his previous swims.
Dani White, 12, posted three improvements in her six races, the best coming in the 100 Back for a 1.56 improvement.
Yasmine Ware, 10, currently is ranked No. 1 in the 50 Backstroke in the state.
But that did not stop her from besting her previous swim in the event where she stopped the clock at 32.66Y for a 1.34 improvement.
Ware finished the event by posting improvements in eight of her 10 races, the biggest gain coming in the 100 IM where she posted a 4.26 improvement.
Anaya said Ware is one of the premier Hawai‘i swimmers, holding a position as one of the top 10-and-under swimmers, as well as being the top 50 backstroker.
Kelsey Tanaka finished with four improvements in his 10 events, the best coming in the 200 Fly where he shaved 4.56 off his previous swim.
Kaitlyn Jarry rounded out the Mokihana contingent with just one improvement, the 200 Free where she cut 1.23 off her previous swim.
“She may have had only one best time, but most of her times were virtually the same as best times,” Anaya said. “What was outstanding about Kaitlyn was that she did the best in form, technique and execution.”
Anaya praised the 14-year-old’s performance, noting that she would have gotten a solid “9” in the Mokihana technique meet.
