Nearly 50 young athletes braved the cold and blustery conditions last Saturday to compete in Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics meet held at the YMCA pool facility. Swimmers from American Renaissance Academy and Hawai‘i Swim Club of O‘ahu joined the SKA athletes
Nearly 50 young athletes braved the cold and blustery conditions last Saturday to compete in Swim Kaua‘i Aquatics meet held at the YMCA pool facility.
Swimmers from American Renaissance Academy and Hawai‘i Swim Club of O‘ahu joined the SKA athletes for the one-day meet.
Four swimmers beat the conditions and earned new state-qualifying times.
Evan Hamamoto, 14, dropped 9.63 seconds off of his previous best time in the 100 Yard Butterfly, coming in at 1:04.26.
Hamamoto had a “perfect” meet, improving his times in all four events swam on Saturday, including a 6.77 drop in his 200 yard Freestyle race.
Ka‘eo Kruse, 10, knocked off a staggering 21.77 seconds, touching the wall at 2:33.80 in the 200 Yard Freestyle event.
Kate Machorek earned her first state time as an 11 year old with her .90 second drop in the 50 Yard Backstroke, coming in at 35.03. Machorek also dropped 9.77 seconds off her 500 Yard Freestyle, and 4.36 seconds off her 100 yard Freestyle.
Yasmine Ware, swimming the 500 Yard Freestyle for the first time, touched at 6:07.77 which earned her another state time.
“Despite the crazy conditions, the kids were excited and ready to swim,” said SKA head coach Billy Brown. “Some showed a sense of confidence that was wonderful to see. They just knew they were going to get a best time.”
Another stand-out athlete was Amber Hopkins, 11, who also had a “perfect” meet, earning new personal best times in all four events she competed in.
She earned her first AA time in the 100 Yard Breastroke event, coming in at 1:30.35, a 5.25 second improvement.
Jazmyn Ibaan Carvalho, 11, earned her first AA time as well, stopping the clock at 31.86 in the 50 Yard Freestyle.
Carvalho also earned four new personal best times on Saturday.
SKA welcomed newcomers Mao Fukada, 7, Olivia McSweeney, 6, Jericho Paliracio, 14, and J-Sea Paliracio, 14, to the team and to experience their first swim meet.
SKA will be hosting their next meet on Saturday, April 4 at the YMCA.
For more information, visit www.swimkauai.com
