2016 Can-Am Open
Elizabeth Marks (Photo: Marly Zea)
Several Paralympians and national champions highlighted the 2016 Can Am Open, including Elizabeth Marks, a 100 breast gold medalist in Rio. Marks, who competes for the CBAC Charlottetown Bluefins, won her signature event, clocking a 1:33.96 for gold in the 100 meter breast multi-class SB7. She also swam the 50 meter and 200 meter breast multi-class SB7 in times of 44.94 and 3:19.45 respectively.
Another big storyline of the meet was Michelle Konkoly‘s return to competition post Rio. Konkoly, who won the S9 classification 50 and 100 freestyles at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was representing T2 Aquatics at this meet. She faced a DQ in the 50 back at this meet, but still came away with a gold medal after swimming to a 1:09.84 victory in the multi-class 100 meter free.
On the men’s side, Benoit Huot, a 9-time Paralympic gold medalist for Canada, made an appearance at the meet. The Neptune Natation swimmer clocked the fastest 100 breast of the meet in the multi-class S10 category, posting a 1:06.45 before scratching out of finals. He also competed in the multi-class S10 50 free (29.56), 100 free (1:04.97) and 50 back (31.86).
Gabriel Marsh (Photo: Marly Zea)
Swimmers of all ages joined in on the fun and competition, including Alabama native Gabriel Marsh, who’s just 12 years old. Marsh took on a big schedule that included the S4 50 free (1:08.26), 50 back (1:24.23), 100 back (2:54.41), and 100 fly (3:30.08). He also led off team USA’s winning multi-class NE 4×50 20 point free relay.