It was going to happen and it was only a matter of time for Island School’s Ben Baldwin, who shattered a pool record in the 200 yard freestyle event at the KIF’s first qualifying meet on Saturday at Kaua‘i High
It was going to happen and it was only a matter of time for Island School’s Ben Baldwin, who shattered a pool record in the 200 yard freestyle event at the KIF’s first qualifying meet on Saturday at Kaua‘i High School’s pool.
“I’m not super surprised about what he did, but I’m more suprised about the way he did it,” Island School head swimming coach Ro Davis said.
The freshman phenom, who came away with a 1:55.43, eclipsed the state qualifying time by about two seconds and outdistancing the next competitor, Kaua‘i’s Kyson Gusukuma by over eight seconds at 2:03.55.
The previous pool record was held by Kaua‘i’s Keenan Anaya, who set the mark with a 1:56.05 last season. Coincidentally, Anaya, one of last year’s brightest stars, has decided to join the Kaua‘i swimming team and will be an immediate favorite in every event he enters.
Two other performers qualified for the state swim meet for the 100 yard backstroke. Kaua‘i’s Jarred Perry and Waimea’s Randy Umetsu both swam under the state time of 1:03.90. Perry won the event with a time of 1:00.72 and Umetsu followed with a 1:03.32. Both swimmers are expected to qualify for more events as the year goes along.
With Kapa‘a on O‘ahu for a pre-season meet and numerous individuals out because of other assignments, the meet still went on fairly well.
“It was a great meet and I’m excited about the remaining ones that are coming up,” Davis said.
Kaua‘i High School swept the boys and girls team results. The Red Raider boys got 94 points, followed by Waimea with 35, and Island School with 16 points. The Red Raider girls came away with 75 points, with Island School in second with 37, and Waimea in third with 18 points.
The closest and most exciting event of the day was the boys 100 yard breast stroke event involving Kaua‘i’s Nick Murray and Kula’s Even Daniells. Murray beat out Daniells by no more than a cat’s whisker.
Other winners included, Kaua‘i’s 200 yard medley relay team of Kailee Andrade, Torrey Ikeda, Meaghan Sims, and Mele Scanlon-Givens (2:23.83), Kaua‘i’s 200 yard medley relay team of Nick Murray, Jarred Perry, Kelsey Tanaka, and Aaron Ramelb (1:55.52), Torrey Ikeda (Kau, 200 free, 2:42.56, and 100 fly, 1:22.06), Katelyn Umetsu (Wai, 200 IM, 2:35.99, and 500 free, 6:21.95), Aaron Ramelb (Kau, 200 IM, 2:20.17, and 100 fly, 1:01.22), Wailana Waite (Kula, 50 free, 28.79, and 100 breast, 1:22.22), Jarred Perry (Kau, 50 free, 23.84), Sonja James (Island, 100 free, 1:07.04), Ben Baldwin (Island, 100 free, 53.42), Cody Navarro (Kau, 500 free, 6:36.56), Island School 200 free relay girls team of Jamie Emberson, Sonja James, Leilani Carvalho, Michelle Woltman (2:08.15), Kaua‘i’s 200 free relay boys team of Nick Murray, Cory Riley, Aaron Ramelb, Kyson Gusukuma (1:41.96), Meaghan Sims (Kau, 100 back, 1:12.49), Nick Murray (Kau, 100 breast, 1:20.33), Kaua‘i’s 400 free relay girls team of Torrey Ikeda, Taylor Branch, Meaghan Sims, Nani Pickop (5:03.43), and Kaua‘i’s 400 free relay boys team of Kelsey Tanaka, Kyson Gusukuma, Cory Riley, Jarred Perry (4:03.94).
KIF swimming continues on Saturday at Kaua‘i High School’s pool, starting at 1 p.m.
