Team USA Smashes Three American Records on Opening Day of 2023 World Series

 

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - Nearly 140 athletes from 13 nations headed to the Twin Cities for the American stop of the 2023 Para swimming world series circuit. Team USA dominated the podium grabbing a total of 11 medals (four gold, four silver, three bronze) and three American records on the first day of competition at the Citi Para Swimming World Series USA 2023. For U.S. athletes, the event acts as the qualifier for athletes to be named to the Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships team this summer. 

Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Elizabeth Marks (Colorado Springs, Colorado) snagged the first title of the night in the women’s 100-meter freestyle in record time taking the American record with a time of 1:13.16. Six-time Paralympic medalist McKenzie Coan (Clarkesville, Georgia) grabbed a silver medal win just behind Marks. 

“I feel really good,” said Coan. “That was a great race. I had a lot of fun out there, and being out there beside my teammates is always a plus.”

It was a golden start for national team member Morgan Ray (St. Augustine, Florida) who added his seventh American record and second world series win with a time of 1:22.99 in the men’s 100m breaststroke. Paralympian David Abrahams (Havertown, Pennsylvania) grabbed silver in the event, the same race which made him a Paralympic silver medalist in Tokyo. 

“It was a painful morning swim, I just had to get the jitters out but tonight I cleaned up a lot,” said Ray. “I was more conservative in the front half of the race and was able to finish a lot stronger, so I just put my head down and hit my hand on the wall. My teammates at home gave me that extra push. I know they’re really supporting me.”

Three-time Paralympian Colleen Young (St. Louis, Missouri) picked up the third U.S. gold medal for the evening with 2023 national team newbie Olivia Chambers (Little Rock, Arkansas) grabbing bronze in the women’s 100m breaststroke. 

“This is a big meet for U.S. Para swimmers,” said Young. “This is our trials for world championships so to come away with the win and a decent time for the season is definitely something to be happy about.” 

Looking to make his first world championship team, Trevor Lukacsko (Basking Ridge, New Jersey) was off to a stellar start taking an American record during the preliminary races of the men’s 100m breaststroke before ending the night with a 200m freestyle bronze. 

The Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center is the first venue in the United States to establish an integrated World Para Swimming timing and points system. Racing resumes for the second day of competition at 9 a.m. ET on April 21. All races are mixed class with results based on the World Para Swimming points system to create an equitable field of play among the different classes. All sessions will be streamed live on USParaSwimming.org/live-stream and on the U.S. Paralympics Swimming Facebook page. For full results from the second day of competition, click here.   

Follow U.S. Paralympics Swimming on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and results from the team.

For media requests and photo inquiries, please contact Annemarie Blanco at Annemarie.Blanco@usopc.org. 

MEDALISTS 

Women’s 100m Freestyle 

1. Elizabeth Marks, S6 – AMERICAN RECORD

2. McKenzie Coan, S7 

3. Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago (BRA), S12

 

Men’s 100m Freestyle 

1. Ugo Didier (FRA), S9 

2. Noah Jaffe, S8 

3. Jamal Hill, S9 

 

Women’s 50m Breaststroke

1. Nely Edith Miranda Herrera (MEX), SB3

2. Maria Alejandra Macias Hernandez (COL), SB3

3. Lidia Vierira Da Cruz (BRA), SB3

 

Men’s 50m Breaststroke 

1. Arnulfo Castorena (MEX), SB2

2. Gustavo Ramon Sanchez Martinez (MEX), SB3 

3. Angel De Jesus Camacho Ramirez, (MEX), SB3

 

Women’s 100m Breaststroke 

1. Colleen Young, SB13 

2. Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago (BRA), SB12

3. Olivia Chambers, SB13 

 

Men’s 100m Breaststroke 

1. Morgan Ray, SB6 – AMERICAN RECORD 

2. David Abrahams, SB13

3. Ugo Didier (FRA), SB8 

 

Women’s 200m Freestyle 

1. Piper Sadowski, S14

2. Abigail Kershaw, S14

3. Lidia Vierira Da Cruz (BRA), S4 

 

Men’s 200m Freestyle 

1. Angel De Jesus Camacho Ramirez (MEX), S4

2. Gustavo Ramon Sanchez Martinez (MEX), S4

3. Trevor Lukacsko, S14