Not that his newfound recognition undermined his talent. Cromwell again routed all comers at the EISL Championships, taking the 100-yard backstroke and butterfly events, before setting a new meet record in the 200-yard backstroke to extend the streak to 12, besting Shevchik’s former mark by 0.28 seconds to complete his ascension in defeat. Cromwell’s season wasn’t quite over, but the streak soon would be, as Cromwell knew, heading into the NCAA Championships. But that didn’t stop him from going out with a bang. Missing the consolation finals in the 100 meter backstroke by a single position—and one-tenth of a second—Cromwell pulled himself together for one final run.

“My goal was to make [the consolation finals],” Cromwell said, “but I wasn’t really feeling that well. But I saw Rassan [Grant] place 13th, and I fed off that.”

Though he was unable to muster an effort good enough to make the final—18 hundredths of a second off the qualifying time—Cromwell’s heat time earned him a spot in the consolation final and satisfied his goal. He then won the successive heat with a time that, had he been in the final, would have been good enough for seventh, 0.01 seconds out of sixth.

“I know my goal was to make consols,” Cromwell said, “but I was upset when I saw that. But I’d met my goal.”

For now, though, those thoughts are in the past. Cromwell has Olympic Trials in July and, further down the road, a shot at a national title.

“There’s always room to learn and improve,” Cromwell said. “Looking at the returning swimmers next year, [Texas sophomore and reigning world record holder] Aaron Peirsol just turned pro, so I’ll be in the top five coming back.”

And maybe next time, the streak won’t end.

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.