The combined efforts of 11 swimmers from Swim Kauai Aquatics led to a fifth-place finish at the 39th annual Harry Mamizuka Invitational swim meet April 28 at the Manoa Valley Pool on Oahu.
“Despite the heavy rainfall at the Manoa Valley Pool, our SKA swimmers shone bright, and had a very strong showing,” said Curt Colby, SKA coach. “Six of the 11 swimmers were top point scorers in their age groups, and all the swimmers on the team had great improvements in their personal times.”
The Mamizuka experience was the first long course meet of the season for SKA swimmers.
“Experiences like traveling off-island and racing in new conditions are exactly what our swimmers need as we build our team for a strong showing at the state championships this summer on Maui that will play out on July 18 through 21,” Colby said.
Chloe Inouye, 12, showing strong during the recent regional meet, topped the field, missing first place by just a point after earning 65 points. During the Mamizuka meet, Inouye took five of her eight events while adding a pair of new zone times — the 100 freestyle (1 minute, 03.50 seconds), and the 50 backstroke (35.44).
Talen Koerte, 12, picked up a fourth finish in the 11-12 age group with 30.50 points after scoring a perfect meet with best times in all of his swims. Included in the new times, Koerte made state cuts in the 200 individual medley (2:289.73), a 15-second improvement over his previous swim, and the 50 freestyle (31:23).
Kamaira Silva, 14, finished second in the 13-14 division with 43 points, and ended third in the open division with 19 points for a total of 62 points. During this journey, Silva pocketed three events where she gained improvements of more than five seconds — the 100 breaststroke (1:31.33), the 100 butterfly (1:;17.30), and the 200 IM (2:45.26).
Tyler Tanaka, 14, finished second in his age group with 57 points, including winning both the 100 breaststroke (1:15.47), and the 200 breaststroke (2:38.09).
“Tyler’s time in the 200 was his first Northwest sectional cut for a mainland meet,” Colby said. “He turns 15 before the state meet this summer, but already has three qualifying times, including the 200 butterfly, and is just tenths of a second close to an additional three. Tyler had all best times and medaled in nine of his 10 events.”
Kai Mottley, 14, finished fourth in that age group with 39 points, including recording second-place finishes in the 100 butterfly (1:06.27), the 200 butterfly (2:27.09), and the 200 freestyle (2:12.46). He also posted three new state times in the 100 freestyle (1:00.50), the 200 freestyle, and the 200 IM (2:32.42).
Ryden Williams, 15, finished second in his age group with 33 points, including dropping times in his 100 backstroke (1:11.02), and the 200 IM (2:32.88).
“Ryden had one second place finish, and four third place finishes,” Colby said. “His hard work on his underwater kicks off the wall at practice really paid off at this meet.”
Taimana Kjeldsen, 11, posted a perfect meet and secured a new AA time standard in the 200 freestyle (2:29.75) with a 27-second drop.
“This incredible time drop at the Mamizuka Invitational is a direct result of Taimana’s perseverance, dedication to SKA, and her very positive attitude,” Colby said.
Ahonui Perreira, 10, was in his first long course meet and picked up three new state time standards in the 100 backstroke (1:40.70), the 200 freestyle (2:56.22), and the 50 freestyle (37.24).
Tematahira Perreira, 13, Ahonui’s brother, was close to a pair of state standards in the 100 backstroke (1:16.08) and the 200 backstroke (2:43.89).
“Ahonui’s challenge now is that he turns 11 before the state meet, and has a whole new level of cuts to get,” Colby said. “For Tematahira, with continued training, and more than two month to go before the state meet on Maui, these state cut times are achievable. He had best times in five of his seven events.”
Skyler Wilson, 18, was in his first-ever off-island as well as long course meet. He finished fifth in the 200 breaststroke (3:18.70), and Kohlton Sanchez, 10, in his first long course meet, picked up his first pair of state cuts in the 100 breaststroke (1:51.03), and the 100 freestyle (1:24.08).
“Kohlton is very close in three other events,” Colby said. “Taking into consideration that we attended this meet without all of our qualifying swimmers, and we finished fifth place overall over some very strong teams, we have our goals set on another strong finish at the Maui State Championships. We are excited to see what we can do with our entire qualifying team on board.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
