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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, February 1, 2009

Punahou sweeps ILH swimming crowns

Photo gallery: ILH swimming championships

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Punahou senior Christel Simms won all four events she entered, and set a record in the 100-yard backstroke.

REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

'Iolani freshman Kacy Johnson won three events, and set a mark in the 200 IM.

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Punahou's Christel Simms pulled off a sweep and put another entry into the record book yesterday in her final Interscholastic League of Honolulu Swimming and Diving Championship at 'Iolani.

Simms won all four events she entered yesterday, including her sixth ILH championship meet record after clocking 57.45 seconds in the 100-yard backstroke.

The previous record was 57.83, set by Punahou's Rachel Cote last year.

"It feels great breaking a record," said Simms, who competed for the Philippines in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "I didn't know if I was close to it or not. Once they said I broke it, it was a good feeling."

Simms also won the 100 freestyle (52.07), and swam on the winning 200 medley (1:53.70) and 400 freestyle (3:41.05) relay teams.

Simms, who will attend USC, has set at least one meet record in each of her four years.

As a freshman, she set the record in the 50 freestyle (23.86); as a sophomore, she set records in the 100 freestyle (50.50), 200 freestyle (1:51.52) and 400 freestyle relay (3:33.54); and as a junior, she set the record in the 200 freestyle (1:36.85).

Punahou junior Rachel Fujita also was a four-event winner yesterday as the Buffanblu easily won the girls competition with 100 points. 'Iolani was second with 46 and Pac-Five third with 38.

Punahou also won the boys competition with 93 points, followed by 'Iolani with 68 and Kamehameha with 39.

For individual events, teams were awarded points on a 6-4-3-2-1 basis. Team points were doubled for the relays: 12-8-6-4-2.

"We talked before the meet that we needed everyone to kind of step up," said Punahou coach Jeff Meister. "We're looking forward to two weeks from now (at the state championships)."

On the boys side, 'Iolani freshman Kacy Johnson put on a precocious performance. He set a meet record in the 200 individual medley in 1:54.67.

The previous record was 1:56.16 set 14 years ago by Punahou's Carl Larsen.

"I wasn't really expecting anything," Johnson said. "I've been training up for sectionals for kind of like a regional meet for my club team (Kamehameha Swim Club)."

Johnson also won the 500 freestyle (4:49.07) and swam anchor for the winning 400 freestyle relay team (3:16.79) along with Ian White, Kevin Jones and Chase Weber.

"He's outstanding," 'Iolani coach Brian Lee said of Johnson. "He's already shown the promise at the national level at his age and he's only getting better."

Johnson's 200 medley relay team was disqualified after a swimmer left the starting block too early.

The Buffanblu girls won eight of the nine individual events and all three relays.

Punahou's Fujita won the 50 freestyle (24.38), 100 butterfly (58.71), 200 freestyle relay (1:41.51) and 400 freestyle relay.

Swimmers were allowed to enter a maximum of two individual events and two relays.

Other Buffanblu girls who won individual events were Chelaine Eliazar (1-meter diving, 390 points), Kendra Rask (200 freestyle, 1:59.39), Elise Baker (200 individual medley, 2:19.30) and Brandi Halemano (100 breaststroke, 1:09.44).

Halemano, Rask and LillyBelle Deer swam with Simms on the 200 medley relay team; Terry Richmond, Fujita and Elise Baker joined Simms on the 400 freestyle relay team.

For the boys, 'Iolani won more events than Punahou (6 to 4), but the Buffanblu had too much depth. Punahou had top three finishes in all 11 boys events (8 individual and 3 relays).

Buffanblu senior Ruddy Kiessling won the 50 freestyle (22.11) and 100 freestyle (48.71), and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay team (1:39.20).

'Iolani senior Geramiah Simoes also was a three-event winner. He won the 200 freestyle (1:46.52) and 100 butterfly (52.56), and was a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay team (1:30.01).

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.