The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

College of San Mateo’s Kawei Tan, a Burlingame graduate, won a state championship in the 100 backstroke in Los Angeles Friday in a time of 49.86.

It is the first CSM state champion since Don Gray won the 50 free in 1966.

Coach Randy Wright said the plan was to swim in the 50s in the preliminaries and swim under that in the finals. Tan came into the championships with a best time of 51.1. He swam a 50.20 in his preliminary race and came back to post a sub-50 time in the finals, winning by more than a second.

Tan has a chance to win another state title as he in has the top time heading into the 200 backstroke final Saturday.