Robert Griswold Sets American, Pan American Records in S8 100 Back

Photo Courtesy: Kevin McCarthy

Night two of the 2017 World Para Swimming World Series featured many more fast swims by swimmers from around the globe. After the American team won 15 events on night one, Robert Griswold led Team USA on night two with American and Pan American Records in the S8 100 back with a time of 1:04.34.

Michelle Konkoly also had a quick swim in the S9 50 freestyle (28.37), just eight one-hundredths off her own World Record set in Rio.

While the Americans came home with 26 event wins, team Australia also had a successful night with 15 wins, led by Blake Cochrane and Logan Powell who each won two races. Cochrane claimed the S8 50 free in 28.61 and the SM8 200 IM in 2:32.79 while Powell won the S9 100 back in 1:06.20 and the SM9 200 IM in 2:28.55.

Robert Griswold Breaks American, Pan-American Records in 100 Back

INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. athletes secured 26 individual wins on the second day of the World Para Swimming World Series, which included a new mark in the record book. The event at the Indiana University Natatorium is the fourth stop of the first-ever world series circuit.

En route to setting an American and Pan American record, Robert Griswold (Freehold, New Jersey) finished the S8 100 backstroke in a time of 1:04.34, while Caleb Cripe (Middlebury, Indiana) won the same event in the S7 class.

The trio of Rebecca Meyers (Timonium, Maryland), Colleen Young (St. Louis, Missouri) and Martha Ruether (Allegany, New York) swept the finals of the S13 50 freestyle, while Meyers, Young and Madeleine Babcock (Belmont, Massachusetts) dominated the SM13 200 individual medley.

Athletes with multiple individual victories on Saturday evening include Vica Beelner (Decatur, Georgia), Curtis Lovejoy (Atlanta, Georgia), Meyers, Casandra Shaffer (Bend, Oregon), Zachary Shattuck (Mt. Airy, Maryland), Leanne Smith (Salem, Massachusetts) and Breanna Sprenger (Avon, Ohio).

The World Para Swimming World Series event concludes Sunday, with the preliminary round beginning at 9 a.m. ET, followed by finals at 5 p.m. The sessions are open and free to the public.

QUOTES
Robert Griswold
“It felt really good. I think it was a culmination of things I’ve been working hard on at practice. Since I’ve gotten back from Rio, I’ve been working on my closing speed and just focusing on winning at the end of the race and doing all the little things right.”

Rebecca Meyers
“It was a good swim. I felt strong and I finished strong. It was fun to swim with my teammates, Colleen and Martha, and to go 1-2-3. It’s a good indication of where I stand this season and what I need to work on as I gear up for [world championships in] Mexico City.”

RESULTS
Competition will conclude Sunday with the 100 free and the 50 and 100 butterfly. Full results of each session can be found here.

Press release courtesy of U.S. Paralympics.

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Thomas A. Small

6 years ago

Congratulations

Marcy Mestel Gold

6 years ago

Congrats Robert

Crissy Mac Millan Judge

6 years ago

Congrats to Robert