(Cupertino, CA) Mt. SAC freshman swimmer Jason Harary finished best in the state in the California Community College Athletic Association Men's Swimming & Diving Championships in the 400 Individual Medley May 5 at De Anza College.
With his win, Harary achieved All-American status as he swam a personal record (3:58.16) and has the second-best time in the country among community colleges this year. He set the Mt. SAC school record at the South Coast Conference championships last month.
"I totally knew I won when I touched the wall," Harary said. "That was a huge accomplishment to break the four-minute mark."
Harary led the Mounties, who finished thirteenth, with 37 team points as he placed second in the 200 IM (1:51.88). He just missed a Mt. SAC record but did swim his personal best, was the fifth fastest this year in the country (NJCAA and CCCAA) and earned All-American status.
"I always get excited and nervous at any high-level meet, Harary said.
"It showed that all of my hard work for the past three and a half months paid off.
"In coming into the meet I know I was going to drop time and in the race (400IM) I had no idea I was going to win until I was 75% done. It's insane to be part of this club (state title)."
Harary swam a third individual event, placing fifth in the 200 Backstroke with a time of 1:53.42, which was also a personal record (PR) and qualified for All-American status.
In addition to all of that, Harary also swam on four relay teams (200 Medley, 400 Medley, 400 Free, 800 Free) for the Mounties that scored points.
"Jason is such a smart young man and works so hard," Mt. SAC Men's coach Marc Ruh said. "It is really great that he got that win.
"We knew he had a real shot at the 400IM, after his 200IM on Thursday. He also had a great race and that set him well for the next day (400IM race). Jason is one of those guys that will battle for everything – smart, hard-working and dedicated. I love to see good things happen to good guys."
Harary was one of seven Mt. SAC swimmers to go to state. Four qualified for individual events and three (Zach Anaya, Eric Amancio and Jason Willman) were in relays.
Freshman Ryan Lin also swam in the two individual medley races and finished 10th (400IM, PR) and 22nd (200IM). Lin also achieved All-American status in the 400.
His third individual event was the 200 breaststroke (2:10.58), which he finished 14th and received an All-American Honorable mention.
Lin also participated in two relays (200 MR, 400MR) that scored points for the Mounties.
Sophomore Spencer Chlebowski, who also qualified last year for state, swam two long-distance races finishing 14th in the 1650 Freestyle, All-American HM (17:13.04) and 24th in the 500 Free (4:54.92). He also qualified for a third individual event and finished 17th in the 200 Backstroke, All-American HM (2:01.04) and swam in three relays (200 Free, 400 Free, 800 Free).
Zach Justus was 12th in the 1 meter diving event and gained 140.55 points and achieved an All-American HM status.
He also swam in the 50 Free and was 23rd with a time of 22.30 and was a member of three relay teams.
"We are very proud of Jason and this entire team, who had to swim great just to qualify for the state meet," Ruh added. "Then they found a way to perform."
Mt. SAC Relay times and place:
800 Free, 10th (Amancio, Chlebowski, Anaya, Harary), 7:09.61, All-American
400 MR, 11th (Harary, Lin, Willman, Anaya), 3:34.98, All American
200 MR, 13th (Harary, Lin, Willman, Justus), 1:37.96, All-American HM
400 FR, 14th (Amancio, Justus, Anaya, Harary), 3:14.05, All-American
200 FR, 15th (Justus, Anaya, Chlebowski, Amancio), 1:29.20, All-American HM
All-American (Top 16 times in the country (Includes NJCAA, CCCAA)
All-American HM (Top 24 times in the country)
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
