U.S. Paralympic Championships: Noah Jaffe Crowned Swimmer of the Meet

Noah Jaffe; Photo Courtesy: U.S. Para Swimming

U.S. Paralympic Championships: Noah Jaffe Crowned Swimmer of the Meet

Noah Jaffe was crowned swimmer of the meet at the U.S. Paralympic Championships on Sunday in Orlando, wrapping up the three-day event.

Jaffe tallied 7,913 points to win the award at the Rosen Aquatic Center. The S8 swimmer from Carlsbad, Calif., finished the meet by winning the men’s 100 freestyle and setting the American and Americas record in the 200 free.

“It feels great,” Jaffe told U.S. Para Swimming. “I had some ups and downs at this meet but I’m happy overall. I think this year was all about building confidence and believing in myself going into Paris so that’s the biggest thing I’m taking away. In training, I’ve been really changing some things up so I’m excited to see what 2024 will bring.”

The other end-of-meet award, the Amazing Grace Award honoring the late Grace Bunke, went to Emily Reid.

Jaffe’s were the final two of 13 national, world and continental records set at the meet, which brought together more than 100 swimmers and crowned champions in 33 events.

The revelation of the final day may well have been Chloe Cederholm, though. The 13-year-old from Salt Lake City went 2:40.27 to win the women’s 200 backstroke, setting an S10 American record in the process. She was more than four seconds clear of runner-up Taylor Winnett in the morning’s timed final and the fastest swimmer in all classes.

Noah Jaffe came out of the gates firing on the final day. He went 2:08.84 in the 200 free to set the national and continental records. At night, he clocked in at 59.58 to win the 100 free, the only swimmer in any class to break a minute.

Second place in the 100 free went to Braxton Wong in 1:03.18 (he was .05 quicker in the morning). Zach Shattuck added another medal, the S6 swimmer going 1:15.88 for third place, by the World Para Swimming points system. A pair of S12 swimmers, Evan Wilkerson and William Rankine, were in the 1:01s, and S10 Owen McNear went 1:03.15 in the morning session.

Morgan Stickney added another win in her outstanding meet. The S7 swimmer, fresh off 1,500 and 800 free world records on Saturday, added the 100 free crown. She stopped the clock in 1:10.09 to edge McKenzie Coan’s 1:12.65. Third place went to Natalie Sims, the S9 swimmer going 1:05.65.

Other notables in the event include Jessica Long, who went 1:10.33 in prelims. The S8 swimmer and 16-time Paralympic gold medalist was slower in finals at 1:10.56 as she prepares for a run at a sixth Paralympics. The fastest overall time of the day was Audrey Kim’s 1:05.20, the S10 swimmer just ahead of Alexandra Truwit’s 1:05.66.

Olivia Chambers won the women’s 200 individual medley, the 20-year-old setting the overall top time of 2:26.19. She was nearly four seconds ahead of fellow SM13 Grace Nuhfer. Elizabeth Marks (SM6) was third in 3:04.93. The third-fastest overall time was Colleen Young (SM13) in 2:34.23.

David Abrahams, the runner-up in the 100 breaststroke on Saturday, won the men’s 200 IM. The SM13 swimmer went 2:17.20, the fastest overall time in the race. Lawrence Sapp (SM14) finished second in 2:21.91. SM9 swimmer David Gelfand (2:30.56) just edged out SM14 Trevor Lukacsko (2:26.93) on the points system for third place. Lukacsko was second in the 200 free to finish the evening in 2:12.45 behind Thomas Jakovcevic.

Leanne Smith’s time of 4:01.64 in the 200 free was enough to give the S3 swimmer the points victory. Second place went to S14 Piper Sadowski, who tied S5 swimmer Victoria Beelner for the top overall time in 2:31.84. Third place went to Abby Kershaw.

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