KEAAU >> Punahou’s ‘Aukai Lileikis swam two events faster than anyone ever has at the HHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday, but he believes he can do even better.
The senior broke two state meet records in the Kamehameha-Hawaii pool in the trials on Friday, taking down his own mark in the 100 free before destroying Kamehameha great Kanoa Kaleoaloha’s mark from last year.
“Any record is always really special to me,” Lileikis said. “Just the way that I swam there are a lot of things I can improve on tomorrow.”
Lileikis’ reaction after both races was a study in contrasts. When he turned and saw his time of 1:35.35 in the 200 free, he dropped his head for a brief second and allowed a slight smirk to intrude on his face. When he clocked a 47.02 in the 100 free, his eyes lit up like he had never seen such a number before.
He has, though. In December he went as low as 43.68.
“I had no idea, I didn’t think I had that time,” Lileikis said. “I kind of messed up the last turn, but I was happy with the swim, though. I guess I got my feet a little bit too high up on the wall and I thought I screwed up my whole race. That’s another minor thing to change for (Saturday).”
Lileikis goes into the final day with three career golds on his shelf and the possibility of getting four more. In addition to trying to lower his own records in the 100 and 200 free, he plans to participate in the 200 and 400 free relays because there is the matter of bringing his school its third straight team title. He helped the Buffanblu win the 200 free relay yesterday.
“I just want to help my team as much as I can by racking up points,” Lileikis said. “It’s going to be really close between us and a few other teams, so I just want to put points on the scoreboard for Punahou.”
It’s not like one can sense a huge lead and cruise to the finish anyway.
“No way, you can’t do that,” Lileikis said. “There are too many good guys out here to do that.”
Most of those “good guys” are from the ILH with Lileikis. Maryknoll’s M.J. Mao broke the record in the 100 breaststroke, qualified first in the 100 fly and helped the Spartans to the top spot in the 200 medley relay. Other top qualifiers on the boys side were Maryknoll’s Albert Zhi in the 50 free, Sung Je Lee of ‘Iolani in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. Kalani’s Dongjin Hwang was tops in the 5oo free.
If not for Lileikis’ heroics, Maia Petrides of Mid-Pacific might have stolen the show. She shaved nine seconds off her season best to qualify first in the 200 free and then had the fastest time in the 500 free. Punahou’s Lia Foster qualified first in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, and helped the Buffanblu to the to spot in the 200 medley relay.
After Foster, it is a list of girls from smaller schools on the top of the board.
Clancy Doyle of Le Jardin is No. 1 in the 50 free, Maui Prep’s Kysha Altura is tops in the 100 fly and LeGrand Pound was the fastest in the 100 free. Hawaii Prep’s Maile Lawson is tops in the 100 breaststroke.
