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blank Tamas Kerekjarto
An eight-time All-American at USC and a two-time Olympian, Tamas Kerekjarto is in his second season as a graduate assistant coach at USC. Most recently, he represented Hungary at the 2004 Olympics, reaching the semifinals of the 200m IM (finishing 13th overall). He is USC's second-fastest swimmer ever in the 200y IM (1:45.56) and is fourth-fastest in the 400y IM (3:44.85). He also has a top 10 time in the 200y fly. He was a four-time All-American as a senior in 2002 and helped USC to an NCAA title in the 800y free relay. He also earned All-American honors in the 200y and 400y IM and the 400y free relay. Kerekjarto was a three-time All-American as a 2001 junior, taking fourth in the 200y IM (1:45.65), sixth in the 400y IM (3:44.85) and helping USC to a second-place finish in the 800y free relay at the NCAA Championships. He was also 20th in the 200y fly (1:45.95). At the 2001 Pacific-10 Conference Championships, Kerekjarto was second in the 200y IM (1:46.12), third in the 400y IM (3:45.81) and sixth in the 200y fly (1:45.95). He just missed medalling at the 2001 World University Games, taking fourth in both the 200m IM (2:03.38) and the 400m IM (4:25.04). As a 2000 sophomore, Kerekjarto joined the USC team in the spring semester and earned All-American honors shortly after. He competed in three individual events at the 2000 NCAAs, but earned his All-American honor by helping USC's 400m medley qualify for the finals. Individually, he won the consolation final of the 200m IM (1:58.23, scm) and was 30th in the 200m fly (2:00.24, scm). At the 2000 Pac-10s, Kerekjarto was third in the 200y IM (1:47.06), sixth in the 400y IM (3:50.11) and 13th in the 200y fly (1:48.83). At the 2000 U.S. Spring Nationals, he was 24th in the 200m free (1:54.85). He also helped the USC 400m and 800m free relays reach the finals. At the 1999 U.S. Open, he took seventh in the 400m IM (4:29.72) and 13th in the 200m fly (2:04.74). Kerekjarto came to USC with quite a bit of international experience. He competed for Hungary at the 1996 Olympics, taking 55th in the 50m free. Later that same year, he won the 200m IM at the European Junior Championships. He also won the event at the same meet in 1997 and took second in both the 100m and 200m free. He competed at the 1999 European Championships and was 10th in the 400m IM and 15th in the 200m IM. Kerekjarto (pronounced kerry-kee-arr-TOE) was born July 9, 1979, in Miskolc, Hungary. He came to USC thanks in part to his friendship with former USC All-American and world champion swimmer Bela Szabados, who also competed on the Hungarian national team. |
