[ HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING ]
Raiders sweeps swim titles
The Red Raiders swept the rain-shortened Local Motion State Swimming and Diving Championship Tournament at Coach Soichi Sakamoto Pool at Wailuku yesterday.
The Iolani boys won their third straight state championship with 64 points, beating Punahou by 10. The Iolani girls won their first state crown since 1998, finishing with 60 points, 24 ahead of Kalaheo.
After Friday's rain postponed the 45 scheduled swimming trials, 67 timed finals were conducted. The top eight seeds were all placed into one single heat for each event.
Mark Eckert Jr. of Iolani broke the only record, winning the boys 100 back in 49.79 seconds. The previous record was held by teammate Hongzhe Sun, set three years ago. Eckert Jr. also won the 200 individual medley and the Red Raiders took the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Ed Afualo of Kapolei won the 100 breast for the fourth straight year, while Punahou's Noa Sakamoto defended his titles in the 200 and 500 free. Randall Tom of Seabury Hall also won the 50 free and 100 fly for the second straight year.
On the girls side, Kapolei sophomore Meredith Egloria took the 50 and 100 free and Maui's Chelsea Nagata won the 100 fly for the third year in a row and took the 100 back as well.
Nagata was one of four Maui girls winning yesterday. Laura Pope of Lahainaluna won the 200 free, Emalia Suehiro of King Kekaulike won the 200 IM and St. Anthony's Nikoya Collier took the 500 free.
While the Iolani girls didn't win any individual events, the Red Raiders swept the three relays.
The diving finals were held Friday after an incoming storm that caused the postponement of the swimming trials stalled over Oahu. Drew Wallace of Punahou and St. Andrew's Priory's Aleia Mondon set state records in winning their second consecutive crowns.
Despite yesterday's Iolani sweep, Punahou still has history on its side. The Buffanblu boys have won 39 of 47 championships, while the girls have won 41 of 47.
