A fantastic American rivalry is developing in the women’s distance freestyles in the para-swimming S8 Classification, and Loyola (Maryland) University freshman McKenzie Coan has gotten-in the latest shot. Her 11:53.37 in the 1000 yard free on Saturday in her team’s college meet against Lehigh crushed the old American Record of 12:31.91 done by Brickelle Bro late last year.
This is at least the third time in the last four months that this record has been broken, though the two previous records were splits en route to 1650 freestyles.
This latest record-crushing swim from Coan builds anticipation for the upcoming 2015 Spring Can-Am meet that will be held from March 20th-22nd in Toronto. That meet will serve as the selection event for the 2015 IPC World Championships in Glasgow.
The selection procedures for the World Championships are based on World Rankings prior to the start of the Can Am Championships (and beginning on January 1, 2014). The 800 and 1500 frees aren’t on the IPC World Championships schedule, which means that these two will be thrust into a shorter race (the 400 free) and will have to face the defending World Champion in the event Jessica Long for a spot on the team.
Athletes are taken in order of their world ranking, and with a roster limit of just 25 athletes, every spot placed higher at the Can-Am meet can result in a significantly-improved chance of making the team.
Bro and Coan were both on the team at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games and placed 5th and 6th, respectively, coming in behind Long’s World Record swim.
Despite Coan’s fanfare, Lehigh still swept the meet winning the men’s side 169-129 and the women’s meet 186-108. Full meet results available here.