Posted on: Sunday, July 13, 2003

Sakamoto, Krawciw capture North Shore Swim Series race

By Baxter Cepeda
Advertiser Staff Writer

A pair of teenagers emerged victorious at Hale'iwa Beach Park yesterday.

Noa Sakamoto, 17, won the 1.2-mile Surf & Sea Cup in 21 minutes, 6 seconds to claim his second North Shore Swim Series race in as many tries. Maria Krawciw, 15, won the women's race in 23:55.

"I just pushed the whole way," said Sakamoto, an All-American who will be a senior at Punahou School.

Sakamoto, who also won the Raging Isle Sprint on June 28, did not show much emotion after his 25-second win over Adam Apprill, 21, but said it was an enjoyable race.

"I just do it for fun," said Sakamoto, who trains with Kamehameha Swim Club. "I really like swimming in the ocean and doing these races."

Sakamoto added that ocean races are an extension of what he does in the pool.

Despite Sakamoto's dominance so far, the men's series title is still up for grabs because Sakamoto will miss the 2.4-mile Surf & Sea North Shore Challenge on Aug. 9. He will be on the Mainland for senior nationals.

Sakamoto said he will compete in the Cholo's 2000 Swim at Waimea Bay on July 26, the third in the four-race series and his favorite.

"It's (Cholo's) basically like this swim only it's a lot clearer," Sakamoto said. "A lot more fun. You get to jump off the rock after (the race)."

Sakamoto said yesterday's race was visually stimulating.

"I saw a big turtle right outside that second bouy," he said. "It was neat. It kind of scared me at first."

Curt Boehm, 23, finished third among the men.

The morning conditions were typical of the North Shore in the summer — flat with light breezes.

The women started 10 minutes after the men to reduce congestion among the more than 200 competitors.

Unlike Sakamoto, Krawciw plans to compete in all four series races and positioned herself for a run at the women's title after her 38-second win over Christine Phillips, 16.

"It'd be fun," Krawciw said of winning the series. "But I just like having fun."

She placed fourth in the first race.

Krawciw, who will be a senior at Kalaheo High in the fall, said her victory yesterday was aided by the fact that several strong female swimmers did not compete.

"I was lucky," said Krawciw, who trains with Aulea Swim Club. "It was pretty hard."

Leslie Christian, 17, placed third in the women's race.

Christine Phillips' father, Brett, who trains with Kailua Master's Swim Club, won the 45-49 age division in 22:55.

Brett Phillips, who had an early lead but wound up fifth overall, was the first finisher older than 25.

NOTES: Age-group winners in the men's race were: Eastman Holloway (1-10), Kekoaa Taparra (11-12), Mitchell Chong (13-14), Quinton Darling (15-19), Pat Foley (20-24), Robert O'Conner (25-29), Brent Imonen (30-34), Lane Johnson (35-39), James Biles (40-44), Brett Phillips (45-49), Leif Johnson (50-54), Roger Cundall (55-59) Daniel Drown (60-64), Ernie Leskovitz (65-69) and Jim Gaughran (70-74).

Age-group winners in the women's race were: Nicole Talion (1-10), Christel Simms (11-12), Nicole Hagi (13-14), Katie Clewett (15-19), Koko Jinbo-Doran (20-24), Samantha Khoo (25-29), Miki David (30-34), Theresa Michal (35-39), Nancy Duran (40-44), Laurie Foster (45-49), Linda Kaiser (50-54), Suilan Ellsworth (55-59), Susan Schenck (60-64) and Bonnie Eyre (70-74).