Austin junior Craig Heimark wasn’t able to go full speed in the Class A state swimming and diving meet last year, but the year he was able to faster than he’d ever gone before in his life.

Heimark re-set two of his AHS school records as he took first place in the 100-yard freestyle with an All-American consideration time of 45.54 seconds and he placed third in the 50-yard freestyle, an event he didn’t even swim in before this season, with a time of 21.25 seconds.

Heimark’s main competition in the 100 was Sam Johanns of St. Thomas Academy, who had beaten Heimark at the state prelims. But the results were much different Saturday as Heimark won the state title by 1.3 seconds.

“This time the pressure was on and I knew I needed to go out and not even race him,” Heimark said. “I needed to all out spring the whole thing. I just went out and I emptied myself completely. I didn’t expect a 45.”

Heimark is Austin’s first state champ since the 2003 season and he feels vindicated after having to swim sick at state last season.

“I wasn’t even paying attention to anyone else, I was just swimming my race,” Heimark said. “This was the year that I needed to do it, because last year I wasn’t able to really swim. It feels really good. I’ve wanted it pretty much since I started swimming.”

Check austindailyherald.com later for an updated story of the Packers at state.