BARBERS POINT, Oahu – Keenan Anaya, swimming under the banner of Mokihana Aquatics, qualified in each of his eight events to lead the Kaua’i delegation at the Hawaiian Swimming Short Course championship meet held at the Barber’s Point Pool from
BARBERS POINT, Oahu – Keenan Anaya, swimming under the banner of Mokihana Aquatics, qualified in each of his eight events to lead the Kaua’i delegation at the Hawaiian Swimming Short Course championship meet held at the Barber’s Point Pool from Dec. 20-23.
Aside from qualifying, Anaya went on to capture a pair of gold medals, a silver, and three bronze medals, and placed fourth and fifth in other two events to raise his individual state standing from sixth to second place.
Swimming in the Male 13-14 100 Fly, Anaya topped the field with a 58.35-second performance, besting his own qualifying 59.59-second round.
In the 200 Fly (13-14 Male), Anaya pocketed his second gold medal by qualifying for the finals on a 2:29.42 round, and then shattering his own pace with a 2:10.45 championship heat.
Anaya’s third gold medal came in the 100 Back (13-14 Male) when he tripped the clocks at 1:00.09 in the championship round, besting his silver medalist qualifying time of 1:00.51.
Bronze medals came in the 200 Free (13-14 Male) where Anaya slipped in at 1:56.15, an improvement of 1.17 over his qualifying round, and the 200 IM (13-14 Male Individual Medley) 2:14.73, and the 400 IM (13-14 Male Individual Medley) with a 4:45.55 final round.
Anaya’s fourth place finish was in the 100 Free (53.22), with his 5:02.07 finish in the 500 Free good enough for fifth place.
Coach Orlando Anaya, who happens to also be the dad of the newly-crowned state second place swimmer, was ecstatic over his delegation’s performance on O’ahu, noting that Keenan’s performance will definitely put the young swimmer in a position to stave off challengers at the next meet scheduled for Kihei, Maui later this year.
“All this time, he (Keenan) had to chase,” Anaya said. “Now, he’ll see what it feels like to be chased.”
Keenan’s performance at the Barber’s Point meet was bettered only by the top swimmer in the state, Dane Kane, who swims under the Kamehameha Schools banner, Coach O noted.
“He (Kane) got seven gold medals! But, he qualified for only seven of his eight events,” the Mokihana coach noted.
Kane will also be celebrating his 15th birthday soon which will put him in a different category at the Kihei meet, coach Anaya said.
Anaya’s pride was not limited to just Keenan’s performance, but umbrellaed the performances of both Randy and Katelyn Umetsu who both qualified for state standings at this meet.
Randy Umetsu ended up with a fourth place finish in the 100 Back (11-12 Male) with a 1:09.90 time, and Katelyn tripped the clock at 2:29.95, good for a 7th place in the 200 Fly (15-16 Female).
Other Mokihana Aquatics swimmers who competed at the Barber’s Point meet included Jason Ebesu, Kai Perry, Tyson Chihara, Kelsey Tanaka, and Keyah-Leilani Agoot.
Full results for the Kaua’i delegation follow:
Keyah-Leilani Agoot, Female 10 & under age group: 12th, 200 IM, 3:01.70; 13th, 100 Fly, 1:29.69; 18th, 200 Free, 2:42.34; 24th, 50 Fly, 41.36; 17th, 100 Back, 1:26.28
Katelyn Umetsu, Female 15-16 age group: 16th, 100 Fly, 1:07.99; 14th, 200 Back, 2:30.00; 7th, 200 Fly, 2:29.95; 7th, 200 Fly, 2:32.57
Keenen Anaya, Male 13-14 age group: 3rd – 200 Free, 1:56.15; 1st – 200 Free, 1:56.19; 1st – 100 Fly, 58:35; 1st – 100 Fly, 59.59; 3rd – 200 IM, 2:14.68; 3rd – 200 IM, 2:14.73; 4th, 100 Free, 53.22; 4th – 100 Free, 53.35; 1st, 200 Fly, 2:10.45; 1st, 200 Fly, 2:29.42; 3rd, 400 IM, 4:45.55; 1st, 100 Back, 1:00.09; 2nd, 100 Back, 1:00.51; 5th, 500 Free, 5:20.07
Jason Ebesu, Male 15-16 age group: 10th, 100 Breast, 1:08.64
Kai Perry, Male 15-16 age group: 15th, 200 Free, 1:58.27; 16th, 100 Fly, 1:01.69; 15th, 200 IM, 2:16.67; 9th, 200 Back, 2:15.86; 14th, 200 Fly, 2:22.48; 17th, 50 Free, 25:26; 13th, 100 Back, 1:01.75;
Tyson Chihara, Male 11-12 age group: 16th, 100 Breast, 1:27.00
Kelsey Tanaka, Male 11-12 age group: 18th, 100 Breast, 1:27.27; 16th, 100 Free, 1:04.11; 19th, 200 Free, 2:24.43
Randy Umetsu, Male 11-12 age group: 11th, 200 IM, 2:33.72; 19th, 100 Fly, 1:20.10; 11th, 100 Breast, 1:24.94; 15th, 50 Back, 34:07; 13th, 100 IM, 1:12.46; 14th, 50 Fly, 33:26, 10th, 50 Breast, 38.72; 5th, 100 Back, 1:09.90; 7th, 100 Back, 1:11.96
