BIG ISLAND — Sara Funtanilla, 10, the sole representative from the Mokihana Aquatics swim program, finished with four improvements in six events at the 64th annual Keo Nakama Invitational at the Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center on the Big Island. Competing
BIG ISLAND — Sara Funtanilla, 10, the sole representative from the Mokihana Aquatics swim program, finished with four improvements in six events at the 64th annual Keo Nakama Invitational at the Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center on the Big Island.
Competing Friday through Monday, Funtanilla posted improvements in the 200 Individual Medley, the 50 free, the 200 free and the 100 free and posted Hawai‘i AA time standards in all but one event, the 200 IM where she posted her biggest improvement at 4.35 converted time for a Hawai‘i A time standard after touching the wall at 3:55.65.
Her other big improvement came in the 200 free where she touched at 3:15.46 for a 3.58 improvement based on converted times.
“I was so proud to be her coach,” said Orlando “O” Anaya who accompanied the 10-year-old to the meet. “Sara handled herself with class, respect and humility, which was unsurpassed. We talked about things that went well with her swims and will try to improve on that. We also talked about things that did not go so well, and we’ll also try to improve on that. The best thing is, I know that Sara writes everything down in her swim journal so she will remember it and will actually learn.”
Anaya said Funtanilla had great improvements, struggling a little in her favorite 50- and 100- backstroke events.
“You don’t have to be the fastest to be recognized,” Anaya said. “She is now known and respected, not just in Hawai‘i. I saw her making friends with a girl from Tahiti. When I asked her what she and her new friend were talking about, Sara said she wasn’t sure because the girl was speaking French, yet they were having lengthy conversations. So cool. Sara swam fast, but what she got out of this weekend was so much more.”
