Morgan Stickney Sets Americas Record as U.S. Excels on Night 2 of Citi Para World Series
Morgan Stickney set an Americas record in the women’s S7 400 freestyle Friday on Night 2 of the 2023 Citi Para Swimming World Series stop in Minneapolis.
Stickney’s swim clocked in at 5:03.20 to set the record. The double Tokyo Paralympic gold medalist from Cary, North Carolina led a 1-2-3 American sweep, with McKenzie Coan (S7) second for the second time in the meet and Olivia Chambers (S13) third.
“I’m happy with how it went,” Stickney said in a USA Para Swimming press release. “I’ve had a lot of difficulties training in the last year, so I’m happy I was able to finish the race and do really well. It’s amazing to be here and just be able to see everyone and spend time with them. It’s been a lot of fun to be part of Team USA.”
Stickney helped the U.S. amass 17 medals on Day 2 of the three-day meet at the University of Minnesota’s Jean K. Freeman Aquatics Center. It takes their two-day total to 28.
Friday brought out some of US Paralympic Swimming’s heaviest hitters. Elizabeth Marks tallied two medals, the S6 swimmer winning the 50 butterfly and finishing second in the women’s 50 free. In the latter, Coan was third, behind Brazil’s Maria Carolina Gomes.
“Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming,” Marks said. “My first-ever Para meet was in this pool. We decided to train through this event, so we were just hoping for good swims and good practice, I always want to try to make a worlds team.”
The U.S. women pulled another sweep in the 100 butterfly, with Elizabeth Smith (S9) taking the win. Jessica Long (S8) was second, with Mikaela Jenkins (S10) third.
Noah Jaffe set an American record in the men’s S8 50 freestyle, an event in which he finished third. He had set an Americas record in the S8 100 free the night prior. Jaffe was also third in the men’s 400 free on Friday.
Lawrence Sapp (S14) won the men’s 100 fly, with teammate Jeff Lovett third. (In between was Ireland’s Barry McClements.) Abbas Karimi added another win for U.S. by claiming the 50 fly.
Frenchman Ugo Didier continued to pick up wins, the S9 swimmer claiming the 400 free and 50 free. American Matthew Torres garnered silver in the longer event, with Jamal Hill besting Jaffe for silver in the 50.