CITI Para Swimming: Elizabeth Marks Sets Record; Anastasia Pagonis and Gia Pergolini Make Returns

Anastasia Pagonis, left, and Elizabeth Marks; Photo Courtesy: USA Para Swimming

CITI Para Swimming: Elizabeth Marks Sets Record; Anastasia Pagonis and Gia Pergolini Make Returns

Elizabeth Marks set an Americas record among two gold medals on Friday, the second night of the three-day CITI Para Swimming World Series stop in Indianapolis.

Marks went 5:19.62 in the 400-meter freestyle Friday night at IUPUI Natatorium, lowering the S6 continental record. Later that night, Marks also won the multi-class 50 free, then swam on a winning mixed 20 points 200 medley relay.

In all, American swimmers collected 61 medals and 10 golds in senior competition over three days, including from some big names. All races were mixed class, with winners determined by World Para Swimming points.

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The fastest swim belonged to Colombia’s Nelson Crispin Corzo, who medaled in all five of his events. His time of 1:18.07 set a world record in the S6 100 breaststroke.

That win came on the first night of the meet, with Corzo also winning the 100 free in the same season. He won the 50 fly after finishing third in the 50 free on Friday, then claimed the 200 IM on Saturday.

Canada’s Sebastian Massabie produced the meet’s other world record, going 39.51 in the heats of the men’s 50 fly to down the S4 world record.

Among the Americans starring on Thursday night were Anastasia Pagonis, swimming in her first meet since the 2020 Paralympic Games thanks to long recoveries from a concussion and a shoulder injury. Pagonis finished fourth in the 100 women’s 100 freestyle but set an American Record in the S11 100 free. Pagonis was also the runner-up to Marks in the 400 free.

Gia Pergolini was back on the para circuit after swimming for Florida International University. She finished second in the 100 backstroke on Saturday.

“I’m feeling really happy about my swims this weekend. I didn’t know where my times were going to be,” Pergolini told USA ParaSwimming. “Swimming with these amazing athletes, I’ve grown up with them since I was 13, they’re like my family. I needed that break for my own mental health, so just showing that you can come back from mental health issues is what I want to show people.”

Mallory Weggeman won the women’s S1-7 50 fly on Friday to go with a pair of silver medals, in the 50 free to Marks and Saturday’s 200 individual medley to Olivia Chambers, in her second win of the weekend. Chambers, who turned 21 on Friday, marked the occasion by winning the women’s 100 breast. Marks was third in that race, with Colleen Young ahead of her.

Morgan Stickney won the 100 free on Friday. Second was Jessica Long, who followed on consecutive days with third-place results in the 400 free and 200 IM. The other American women’s gold came via Grace Nuhfer in the women’s S8-14 100 fly.

Mexico’s America Maqueda Andrada won the 200 free on Friday, and countrywoman Karina Hernandez claimed the 50 back on Saturday, among seven gold medals for the Mexican team. Shelby Newkirk of Canada beat Pergolini in the 100 back.

Christopher Tronco of Mexico captured two golds, winning the 50 breast and SM1-4 150 individual medley.

The American men’s gold medals were concentrated on Friday. Lawrence Sapp won the S8-14 100 fly ahead of countrymen Trevor Lukacsko and Jeff Lovett. Noah Jaffe bested Matthew Torres in the 400 free. Jaffe had been second in the 100 free. Owen McNear, just 18, won the men’s 100 back on Saturday.

Alberto Abarza Diaz of Chile won the men’s 200 free, and Norway’s Fredrik Solberg captured the men’s 50 free.

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