On Friday night in Manitoba, US Paralympian, and ESPY award winner, Jessica Long quietly broke another World Record at the 2012 Can-Am Games: a matchup between the best IPC swimmers from the United States and Canada.
Long, swimming in the 50 fly, posted a 32.89, which clears the old S8 Record of 32.98 done at June’s U.S. Paralympic Trials. The record will remain unofficial, as the IPC has not officially recognized Long’s previous record in its books.
The record-breaking performance was not a big surprise; that previous mark was both in a heat, and a split en route to a 100m time, so swimming just one length of the 50m pool allowed her to easily clear the record.
Long also posted a 1:29.07 in the 100 breaststroke on Friday, just half-a-second away from her own record in that event as well. That’s not her best time of the year, but with nobody else in the classification having been better than a 1:38 this year, she reaffirmed her favorite status for the Paralympics.
In the men’s version of the race, the USA’s Justin Zook won in 27.98. That moves him to 2nd in the world this year, and just half-a-second from the World Record.
Canadian star Summer Mortimer is having a great meet as well; the sprint freestyle World Record holder took wins in both the S10 50 free on Saturday (28.63) and 100 free (1:02.13).