Samuel Jo Soars In Backstroke Wins At 17th Pasadena Invitational

Pasadena City College men's swimmer Samuel Jo broke his own school records in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events as part of his two event wins at the 17th Pasadena Invitational held April 6-8 at the Aquatic Center. 

The Lancers placed fifth overall out of 17 scoring teams with 342 points. Golden West won the invitational title for the third straight year with a whopping 1,043 points. Mt. San Antonio was second (414), Diablo Valley third (413) and Orange Coast fourth (402.5).

Jo, who originally snapped a 40-year-old record in the 200 back in March, shattered that mark by more than a second with a brisk 1:53.10 (1:54.55). He won the 200 back by more than six seconds ahead of the second place finisher. After snapping a 26-year record, he also won the 100 backstroke event with a new school record time of 51.68 seconds (51.85 previous mark). The record times also top the state rankings.

Jo placed third in the 200 butterfly (1:59.01) to move him up to seventh in the state in that event. He won his heat and took seventh overall in the 50 freestyle (22.02). 

Sydney Odent was the only other event winner for the Lancers with his victory in the mile freestyle swim. Odent swam 16:31.42 over the 1,650-yard event, moving him to second in the state and tops in the South region. 

Odent placed third in the 400 individual medley (4:16.91, sixth in the state), third in the 200 IM (1:58.40, sixth in the state), seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.79), and eighth in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.26). 

Jayson Wilia was ninth in the 200 IM (2:03.63), 10th in the 400 IM (4:29.60), 11th in the 100 backstroke (57.32), and 12th in the 200 butterfly (2:05.48). Narek Yeghikyan placed 10th in the 500 freestyle (5:06.25) and 10th in the 1,650 freestyle (18:05.29). David Jimenez scored ninth in the 100 backstroke (57.14). 

PCC's best relay finishes were third places in the 400 medley relay (3:36.72, Jo, Odent, Wilia and Zachary Loomer) and 800 freestyle relay (7:23 flat, Jo, Wilia, Yeghikyan, and Odent). 

Only two invitational meet records were set as Zhen Teo of Santa Monica broke PCC's Tai Nuntapramote's 2009 record in the 100 freestyle at 46.18 (46.19 old mark). Golden West broke its own pool and meet record in winning the 800 freestyle relay in 6:56.21. 

Combined, PCC women and men scored six event champions, the most combined ever by Coach Stoddard's teams at the PI meet.

On April 20-22, the Lancers will compete in the South Coast Conference Championships at Mt. San Antonio College.