Hawaii LSC Page_||_More Stories

Three Molokai Swimmers joined their teammates at the 20th Annual Harry Mamizuka-Manoa Aquatics Invitational Swim Meet from April 28-30. The first of several invitationals in the long course season brought together swimmers from four islands. Many of the older swimmers were missing from this meet as they were resting from high school or national competions in recent months.
Mahinameli Reyes led the trio with nine state qualifying times in all nine of her individual events. She improved on her times in eight of those events and placed in the top eight in five events. Two of the times also qualified her for the 2000 Western Zones competition. Besides placing first in those events, the 50 M and 100 M Breaststroke events, Mahina is now eligible to travel with Team Hawaii to the regional competition to be held in August. Mahina also swam on two relay teams. She teamed with Alicia Gerber, Cathy Kadooka, and Nikoya Collier to take third in the 200 M Freestyle Relay. Earlier, she teamed with Collier, Ashley Otomo, and Gerber for second in the 200 M Medley Relay.
Ilia Reyes also matched Mahina's performance with improvement in eight of his nine events and qualifying times in all of them. Ilia surprised the field with a :32.49 clocking in the 50 M Free to win the event despite splitting practice time with the Little League program. Ilia had six top-eight finishes.
Kimberly Mokuau participated in her first invitational meet and swam an abbreviated schedule of events due to lack of entry times. That will be remedied with more exposure to qualifying events during the regular season. Kim improved on her 50 M Breast and 50 M Backstroke times. She nearly matched her state qualifying time in the 50 M Free. The meet provided another first for her as she swam on two relay teams. Along with teammates Jennifer Cahill, Nicole Hagi, and Kristie Halvorson, the foursome placed sixth in the 200 M Medley Relay and fourth in the 200 M Freestyle Relay.
Mahina and Loni Yonemura traveled to Maui the following weekend for a qualifying meet. Mahina continued to improve on her qualifying times and Loni dropped 15 seconds in the 800 M Freestyle (metric half-mile event).
One more qualifying meet will be held on May 20 and the Memorial Weekend will feature the 26th Annual Coach Soichi Sakamoto Invitational Swim Meet. It will be the last invitational prior to the state championships which will be held on Maui at the Sakamoto Pool from June 9-12.