Aiden Stivers, Katie Kubiak Lead Six American Records on Second Day of Para Pan Pacs
Aiden Stivers and Katie Kubiak led the way as six American records were set on the second day of the Para Pan Pacific Championships.
Kubiak, who set a world record on Friday, lowered her American mark in the S5 50 backstroke to 40.69 seconds in prelims and 40.18 in finals to earn gold.
Stivers likewise improved his American mark in the SB9 men’s 100 breaststroke to 1:10.43 in prelims, then 1:09.90 at night. Stivers finished sixth overall in the multi-class event.
In finals, Olivia Chambers chipped a half-second off the SB12 100 breast record by going 1:18.25. Aspen Shelton improved her national mark in the SB2 50 breast by going 1:06.42, a drop of nearly two seconds.
Dillon Mezey, with a time of 59.27 in the S3 men’s 50 back, and Josie Dolan, with her 1:21.68 in the SB9 women’s 100 breast, also set American marks.
The two world records of the night session came in the 100 breaststroke. On the women’s side, Alessandra Oliveira of Brazil lowered her 100 breaststroke SB4 to 1:40.63. Naohide Yamaguchi, an S14 swimmer from Japan, won gold with an S14 world record of 1:02.38.
The evening started with the 400 freestyle, won by Australian S9 swimmer Lakeisha Patterson in 4:40.35 based on multi-class points. American Ali Truwit was second, the 4:31.52 nearly besting her S10 American record. Aurelie Rivard of Canada was third, the S10 swimmer going 4:37.04.
Australia swept the podium in the men’s race, with S9 swimmer Harrison Vig going 4:18.01. Callum Simpson (S8) was second in 4:29.68, with S9 swimmer Brenden Hall’s 4:19.04 rounding out the Aussie sweep.
Oliveira made it a 1-2 in the women’s 100 breast for Brazil, with countrywoman Beatriz de Araujo Flausino (SB14, 1:23.43). Bronze went to Jessica Johnstone of New Zealand, who broke SB9 national records in both the 50 and 100 breast that had belonged to Sophie Pascoe.
Australia went 1-2 in the mixed 400 free relay S14, with Benjamin Hance, Jack Ireland, Madeline McTernan and Ruby Storm winning in 3:45.33, an Oceania record. In the 34-point mixed 400 free relay, Rowan Crothers, Simpson, Patterson and Chloe Osborn went 4:07.64 for gold. The U.S. was third in that race, via Mallory Weggemann, Koehn Boyd, Nat Vorel and Aidin Williams.
