It was a race Tyler Connors looked forward to all last week, the 100-yard backstroke at the Orange Coast League boys' finals. It pitted him against the league's top swimmer in the event, or so he thought.
The day before the meet at Costa Mesa High, Connors didn't see the name he expected to be on the race sheet. The swimmer, Laguna Beach's Erik Juliusson, decided to skip the 100 backstroke and compete in two other individual events.
So, the one swimmer that could push Connors in his best event wasn't going to be in the finals. With Juliusson out, Connors became the league favorite. And he didn't disappoint.
The junior won the 100 backstroke, setting a personal-best time of 55.43 seconds and breaking the Costa Mesa school record.
The previous mark of 55.70, held by Brad Prickett, stood for 30 years. If there was one swimmer to top it, Coach Justin Taylor is happy Connors pulled it off.