PUHI — Swim Kauai Aquatics athletes combined for 70 new personal best times, including one ZONE time, 10 State QUAL times, 16 AA Invitational times, and 5 A times at their home meet on Saturday. “This was a fast meet.
PUHI — Swim Kauai Aquatics athletes combined for 70 new personal best times, including one ZONE time, 10 State QUAL times, 16 AA Invitational times, and 5 A times at their home meet on Saturday.
“This was a fast meet. I was blown away at the awesome swimming today,” said coach Bridget McCoy of the 43 swimmers who competed at the meet.
Five SKA swimmers had perfect meets and posted new personal bests in each event. Eight-year-old Kiana Kaaihue achieved new times in the 50-yard freestyle (37.72), 50-yard backstroke (44.40), 5-yard breaststroke (53.80) and 100-yard individual medley (1:42.89).
Ten-year-olds Olivia Lutkevich and Kassy McCoy also posted perfect meets. Lutkevich earned a AA in the 50-yard breaststroke (48.30), A times in the 50 (38.79) and 100-yard freestyle (1:27.10) events and a new best in her 50-yard backstroke (46.91). McCoy recorded four new AA times in her 50-yard freestyle (35.40), 50-yard backstroke (41.48), 100-yard freestyle (1:18.03) and 200-yard individual medley (3:12.55). Malia Splittstoesser, 11, clinched a AA in the 50-yard freestyle (31.02) and new personal bests in her 50-yard breaststroke (44.48), 100-yard freestyle (1:10.93) and 100-yard individual medley (1:23.13). Ryan Elwin, 14, recorded four new best times including his new A time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:31.09) along with his times in the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle events (30.11, 1:07.68, and 2:30.66) respectively.
Ryden Williams, 10, achieved a Western Zone time in the 100-yard breaskstroke (1:25.94) and was a recent standout at the state championship meet in Kona last December.
Six swimmers recorded new Hawaii state qualifying times. Kai Norman, 10, brought home two QUAL times in the 50-yard breaststroke (46.67) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:41.74). Hayley Kaeo, 10, obtained her new QUAL times in the 50-yard freestyle (30.82) and 100-yard backstroke (1:27.18). Jack Machorek, 13, pocketed two as well in the 200-yard backstroke (2:23.02) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:21.07). Rounding out the swimmers who earned 2 QUAL times was Kayla Ishida, 16, in the 100-yard butterfly (1:06.37) and the 200-yard backstroke (2:28.52). Jackson Evans, 13, grabbed his QUAL time in the 100-yard butterfly (1:04.30) and a AA for his 2:31.33 time in the 200-yard individual medley. Zach Safford, 14, clinched a QUAL time in the 200-yard backstroke (2:21.78).
Securing new AA time standards, which qualify swimmers to attend invitational meets throughout the state, were Asa Hendrickson, 15, in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:17.17) and 200-yard individual medley (2:27.45), Lucas McSweeny, 9, in the 50-yard freestyle (37.76) and 50-yard backstroke (46.78), Xaveria Rodriguez, 11, in the 50-yard (35.10) and 100-yard (1:21.64) butterfly and 100-yard freestyle (1:09.81), Julia Safford, 11, in the 100-yard backstroke (1:19.79), and Henry Scherer, 13, in the 50-yard freestyle (27.92).
“All of us were so impressed with the kids and are really looking forward to see what they can do at our Kauai Classic meet at the end of March,” said coach Shannon Wigent.
Swim Kauai Aquatics has ongoing open tryouts every afternoon at the YMCA in Puhi. Contact Dan Britzmann at 639-8792 for details. Visit www.swimkauai.com for more information.
