The Boys 200 Meter Free was the final race of the weekend and Kaikea Roe was pitted against a single swimmer who was seeded five seconds faster. Roe topped the six-swimmer contingent of Mokihana Aquatics at the 30th Harry Mamizuka
The Boys 200 Meter Free was the final race of the weekend and Kaikea Roe was pitted against a single swimmer who was seeded five seconds faster.
Roe topped the six-swimmer contingent of Mokihana Aquatics at the 30th Harry Mamizuka Invitational Swim Meet in Manoa this weekend, with the biggest improvement of the group as he shaved 13.42 seconds off his previous swim.
Mokihana Coach Orlando Anaya likened that final race to a swim-off as the two boys started.
“Kaikea went off incredibly fast,” Anaya said, noting that Roe hit the wall on the first 50 meters more than two body-lengths ahead of Kevin Liu of Rainbow Aquatics.
Liu made his move, gaining on Roe after the turn and pulling to within a body-length on the second turn.
Roe struggled in the third leg, and Liu caught Roe at the last turn.
“It was the most exciting race of the whole meet,” Anaya said. “The ‘Bows’ tent, with more than 30 people, is going berserk, screaming and yelling.”
The boys came off the wall simultaneiously, more than 10 seconds ahead of pace, Anaya said.
“I was going off! Kevin pulls ahead at about 10 meters, and just barely, Kaikea takes a slim lead at about 20 meters,” Anaya said. “Kevin takes back his biggest lead of the race at about 30 meters. It looks over, but not yet.”
Anaya said Roe chased the swimmer down and in the final 20 meters, the finish was so close, everyone had to wait until the scoreboard flashed the results to see that Roe picked up the gold on a 2:58.29 swim over Liu’s 2:58.63 effort.
That race gave Roe a near-perfect meet, finishing with improvements in four of his five events and posting his biggest improvement in the 200 Free, based on converted times.
James Wilmot, 12, also enjoyed a near-perfect meet, improving in two of his three qualifying events, the biggest showing coming in the 100 Free where he cut 4.18 off his previous swim on a 1:21.08L showing.
Kayla Ishida, 12, posted four improvements in eight events, her best showing coming in the 200 Free where she stopped the clocks at 1:45.79 for a 4.53 improvement.
“It was a mixed bag for us (Mokihana Aquatics) with a few disappointments, a few on-track, and a few surprises,” Anaya said.
