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Lawrence Sapp Sets Three American Records in Two Events to Close Paralympic Team Trials
Lawrence Sapp didn’t just set an American record in the men’s S14 100-meter butterfly at U.S. Paralympic Team Trials Sunday. He somehow managed to set two.
The 19-year-old Sapp clocked in at 56.10 seconds in the 100 fly to knock down the American record. He garnered a second national record with his opening 50-meter split of 26.15 seconds.
Hardly done, Sapp also set an American record in the 200 individual medley at 2:17.44.
“My times were really good so I was really happy with that,” Sapp said. “I did great this weekend. I was proud of myself.”
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Sapp has World Championships medals in 2017 and 2019, but Tokyo will mark his Paralympic debut.
Sapp had plenty of company in record-breaking on the final day of Paralympic Trials on Sunday in Minneapolis. Anastasia Pagonis took down two more American marks, going 2:46.81 to claim the SM11 200 IM and 31.17 for the S11 50 freestyle record.
Zach Shattuck got his third record of the meet with a time of 2:50.96 to win the SM6 200 IM. David Abrahams added to his record haul in the SM13 200 IM, erasing the record in prelims and lowering it to 2:14.68 in finals. He added the 100 fly record in 1:00.15. Likewise, Jamal Hill twice set records Sunday in the S9 50 free, ending with a time of 25.34. Ellie Marks set the women’s S6 50 free record at 24.52.
The American team for the 2021 Paralympics will be announced Monday. That makes for a short wait for swimmers like Lawrence Sapp, looking to make it to the Paralympic stage for the first time in their careers.
“It would be my first time at the Games,” Sapp said. “I feel ready.”
