Evan Wilkerson Sets Four American Records at Jimi Flowers Classic
Evan Wilkerson set four American records at the Jimi Flowers Classic, one of the final tuneups for American paraswimmers before the Para Pan Pacific Championships this summer.
Wilkerson, 19, led the way in the two-day long-course meet at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Wilkerson went 1:05.98 in the S11 100 backstroke, 29.90 in the 50 back and 28.60 in the 50 butterfly. All three records belonged to five-time Paralympic gold medalist Brad Snyder.
Wilkerson also clocked in at 2:24.74 to down the S11 men’s 200 back record that had been held since 1992 by American John Morgan. It’s the latest step in Wilkerson’s quick ascent to the top of the program while still a teenager.
Aspen Shelton took down three records. She improved her mark in the SB2 50 breaststroke to 1:08.28 and added marks in the 100 breast (2:45.05) and 200 back (5:15.05).
Two-time Paralympian Lawrence Sapp improved his S14 record in the 50 fly to 26.25, one of seven American records that the 24-year-old holds.
Piper Sadowski celebrated competing in her home facility with a time of 2:23.25 in the S14 200 freestyle. That’s her seventh career American mark. Colorado Springs native Dillon Mezey didn’t match his five national records from nationals earlier this summer, but he did lower his mark in the S3 100 back to 2:08.15.
The 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships will be held at California’s Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut from Aug. 28-30.