Para Pan Pacs Roundup: Becca Meyers Rewrites Record Books

Photo by Andrew Fielding – USA TODAY Sports

PASADENA, California, August 10. THE USA’s Becca Meyers rewrote the record books for the second time at the 2014 Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships on Saturday (9 August), swimming a world record 2:26.86 in the women’s 200m individual medley S13 at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Centre.

Through day four of the competition, American swimmers have set three world records, with the other belonging to Ian Silverman (Baltimore, Maryland), en route to 27 gold medals.

“I had a feeling that I was going to set the world record but when I touched the wall, I was very, very shocked,” Meyers said. Colleen Young joined Meyers on the podium, taking a silver medal with a time of 2:35.04. Canada’s Rhea Schmidt finished third with 2:42.23.

“It feels amazing to set two world records here,” Meyers said. “I am so grateful to be a part of Team USA and to have this opportunity to swim here and break these world records.”

On Thursday (7 August), Meyers, who is from Timonium, Maryland, set a world record in the women’s 400m freestyle S13 race, clocking a 4:25.31 in the morning preliminary race. Heading into the meet, Meyers also held the world record in the women’s 800m and 1,500m free and the 400m individual medley for her classification.

Meyers won two medals at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, her first, and is already considered a top contender for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Tom Miazga, a 2008 U.S. Paralympian who did not qualify for London 2012 or the 2013 World Championships, made a triumphant return to Team USA with a gold medal in the men’s 100m backstroke with a 1:12.17.

“Today was awesome,” Miazga said. “It was just an honour for me to make the team after a couple hard years. I was excited just to get here, get the opportunity to race against other countries again. It’s really humbling to come out and have a lifetime best, the best time that I’ve gone since the London trials. It’s just really refreshing and relaxing. It’s good to know that I’m back on track. I’m really happy.”

Miazga topped Argentina’s Lucas Poggi (1:19.05) and Mexico’s Luis Andrade (1:21.11).

Other American title winners include Haley Beranbaum in the women’s 200m individual medley SM5 and Jessica Long in the SM8. In the men’s 200m individual medley, Roy Perkins won the SM5, Cody Bureau won the SM9 and U.S. Navy veteran Brad Snyder won the SM11.

Snyder also won the men’s 100m backstroke S11, his sixth title in Pasadena. In the women’s 50m back, Alyssa Gialamas won the S5 classification with Haley Beranbaum second.

Team USA remains at the top of the medal count, winning 98 total (27 golds, 42 silvers and 29 bronzes), with one day of action remaining.

Australia is second with 82 (49, 19, 14) and Canada is third with 53 (6, 23, 24). Rounding out the top five are Brazil with 39 (22, 9, 8) and Mexico with 37 (12, 12, 13).

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World. To reach our audience, contact us at newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com.

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