Despite the rainy and windy conditions in Puhi, Swim Kauai Aquatics swimmers were solid in their performances in their last state qualifying meet on Kauai before the State Championships to be held on Maui July 13–16. “We have been swimming
Despite the rainy and windy conditions in Puhi, Swim Kauai Aquatics swimmers were solid in their performances in their last state qualifying meet on Kauai before the State Championships to be held on Maui July 13–16.
“We have been swimming a 50-meter long course three days a week now, which will augment their endurance training and prepare them for the state meet which is long course as well,” said SKA coach Curt Colby. “I have two swimmer of the meet contenders this time; I just couldn’t pick one over the other.”
First up for the honor is 8-year-old Ahonui Perriera with the best times in his five events for a perfect meet. “T” Koerte, 10, pulled off four out of five best times and added a top-10 best time with an “AAAA” time of 1:20.26 in the 100-yard butterfly.
Brothers Keanu, 8, and Kalani Hicks, 11, both appeared in their first meet and competed in four events. Keanu achieved a “B” time of 57.58 in the 8-and-under 50-yard breaststroke.
Other swimmers successfully achieving new “B” times were:
w Keira Hennessey, 9, in the 50-yard breaststroke with a time of 55.03 and in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:50.72.
w Thomas Hennessey, 11, in the 100-yard breaststroke had a time of 1:50.08 and in the 50-yard breaststroke had a time of 48.78.
w Olivia Lutkevich, 14, in the 100-yard backstroke had a time of 1:25 and a new “A” time in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:54.60. Lutkevich’s best performance was a 40-second drop in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 22:14.65 — only seven seconds off the “AA” standard.
w Brother duo of Ahonui and “T” Perreira, 11, has an exceptional day at the meet. Ahonui had a new “B” time in the 50-yard breaststroke while “T” got a new “B” time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:42.87) and a new “AA” time in the 100-yard backstroke (1:21.70). An “AA” time qualifies him to swim in off-island meets.
Two swimmers successfully achieving new “A” times were: Taimana Kjeldsen, 9, in the 50-yard breaststroke (51.42) and Olivia McSweeney, 14, in the 100-yard freestyle (1:10.03).
The lone swimmer achieving a new “AA” time was Kai Mottley, 12, in the 100-yard individual medley, dropping five seconds with a time of 1:18.64.
Swimmers with new “AAA” times, qualifying them to swim in the state championships:
Pulama Kaeo, 10, added the 100 Free (1:12.82) to her two previous state qualifying times. Eli Adams,10, added the 100 (1:39.27), dropping 10 seconds and in the 50-breast (43.97), dropping almost three seconds, thus adding to his two previous state qualifiers. Kaimara Silva, 12, dropped 1.5 seconds in the 50-fly, just missing the state cut which would have added to her state qualifier in the freestyle.
Other notable swims for the day were: Xaveria Rodriguez, 15, dropped her time in the 100-yard freestyle to 54.97, making her the second fastest woman on the team to Hayley Kaeo, 15, at 54.86.
Swimmers with improved times but no new standards were: Alana Cayabyab, 14, Ace Cayabyab, 6, Mahina Dameron, 10, Kristen Hennessey, 6, Theo Hennessey, 12, Chloe Inouye, 10, Maiha Kjeldsen, 9, Dorothy Lee, 10, Laura Lee, 8, Moana Liddell, 6, Aisha McGinnis, 14, Lucas McSweeney, 12, Henry Scherer, 16, Malia Splittstoesser, 14, Silas Adams, 9, and Moses Adams, 7.
“Overall, 32 out of 37 swimmers had at least one best time in the meet. Four-and-a-half weeks left for states, and the swimmers will have time to be at their best for the meet,” Colby said.
