2022 US PARA SWIMMING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- December 16-18, 2022
- Mecklenburg County Aquatics Center, Charlotte, North Carolina
- 50 meter (long course meters)
- Psych Sheets
- WPS Points Calculator (2022)
- Livestream: on the US Para Swimming Facebook page here
- Day 1 Results (PDF)
- Day 2 Results (PDF)
Two American Records fell on day two of the 2022 US Para Swimming National Championships in Charlotte.
One came from Christie Raleigh-Crossley, a former NCAA Division III National Champion. She won the 100 backstroke in 1:08.74, which broke Hannah Aspden’s record of 1:09.22 from last summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo, which won her a gold medal.
The time is now just a second away from the World Record of 1:07.41 set by New Zealand’s Sophie Pascoe in 2019.
That swim gave Raleigh-Crossley 1040 points, which is the first 1000+ point swim of the meet so far. That is her second win of the meet so far after also coming out on top in the 100 fly. Elizabeth Marks (S6) was 2nd in 1:24.07/966 points, Lizzie Smith was 3rd in 1:13.88/935 points, Olivia Chambers (S13) was 4th in 1:08.79/909 points, McKenzie Coan (S7) was 5th in 1:28.12/814 points, and Jessica Long (S8) in her comeback meet from a long break was 6th 1:25.09/799 points. This was the most-stacked field of the meet so far.
This year’s meet will be swum as a multi-class event. This means that swimmers from all classes will race each other, but rather than being compared on time, they will be scored based on the World Para Swimming points system. In short: the event winners will be the swimmers who come closest to the best times for their class since 2009 wins.
Classes S1-S10 are for athletes with physical disabilities, Classes S11-S13 are for athletes with visual impairments, and Class S14 is for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The system is designed so that swimmers with higher numbers generally have less-severe disabilities as they relate to swimming. The “SB” classification is for breaststroke events and the “SM” classification is for individual medley events.
Read more about the para-swimming classification system here.
Another American Record fell in the men’s 100 breaststroke, where Jeff Lovett of the SB14 class swam 1:15.04. That shaved two-tenths of a second off the time that Jacob Basini swam at last year’s Olympic Trials in Minneapolis.
Lovett’s record wasn’t enough to win that event. His time was worth 794 points under the WPS scoring system, but David Abrahams (SB13) swam a 1:08.35 for 895 points.
Other Day 2 Winners:
- Racing much of the same field from the 100 back, sans Raleigh-Crossley, Elizabeth Marks (S6) won the women’s 50 free in 33.95, scoring 962 points. Lizzie Smith (S9) was 2nd with a time of 29.97/934 points. That’s a second meet win for Marks, who had the #2 and #3 highest-scoring swims of the day on Saturday.
- Jamal Hill (S9) also broke 900 points en route to winning the men’s 50 free with 928 points/26.49. That missed his own American Record of 25.19 from last year’s Paralympic Games, which earned him a bronze medal. He beat out Yaseen El-Demerdash (S10), who was 2nd with a time of 25.83 and a score of 866 points.
- Lawrence Sapp (S14) took his second victory of the meet, winning the men’s 100 backstroke in 1:06.07/844 points. He also won the 100 fly on Friday.
- Madelyn White (SB8) won the women’s 100 breaststroke in 1:37.90/617 points. That gave her both the fastest time and the highest score of the race.
Thank you so much for your coverage of para nationals this year. although it has its flaws, I hope you continue to bring awareness to The wonderful opportunities para swimming offers to those with disabilities in swimming.
One minor correction to your article above though is that McKenzie Coan is a S7 not a S13.
The amount of cheating that goes on during classification is horrendous. There are senior swimmers that have been a part of para for years that cheat the system. They help others to cheat too. They’ll pull international classifications In foreign countries to get a lower class. If this person was subjected to a background check, that was done through safe sport and well…… we all know that’s a joke. I feel a background check that pulls these things AND the age of the participant should be considered. Watch for daily impairments. She drives a car. Is capable of Long practices and cares for 3 children. TBI’s is not capable of doing everyday things without being so mentally exhausted. So to… Read more »
It is interesting that you bring up all I am “capable” of. You actually listed things that I cannot do without help.
Drives a car- actually only allowed to drive when I am not tried. My husband does most of the driving for me.
Long practices- I swim an hour and 20 minutes max and only once a day. Far less than what I was capable of when I was pulling 3 2-hour practices at 14.
Caring for 3 children- this will be the most upsetting one to admit to because I hold being a mother as my number one life purpose. I require the help from my husband & my oldest daughter to get through our days.… Read more »
Do you teach your children to cheat too?
Also, it is a shame that you perpetuate this narrative that a disabled mother can’t also be an athlete. That is very ableist & sexist of you to say. Disabled women can be mothers. Mothers can be athletes. Disabled mothers can be athletes.
But most mothers don’t cheat. Believe what you want to believe. You cheat. We all see it.
Molly I am praying for you because the amount negativity you hold in your character is painful.
I understand what you are trying to do in provoking me by using my children, which is very disgusting on your part, but all I do is feel sorry for you.
Praying your heart heals because going through life as you are now must be so painful.
Take care of yourself. Sending you light & love
I feel sorry that your narrative is lies. You lie to yourself that this is ok. I’ll pray for you too because you’re going to need it. Now please get honest with yourself. Spare ALL of us these lies. Your time is gone. Let the younger HONEST athletes have a chance. You are the definition of a cheater. Para has no place for you.
Maybe y’all two should have a private conversation. Happy to connect you if you both give me permission to do so.
I would gladly converse with Molly. Publicly oking this connection.
I appreciate all the concern that is being focused on in regards to incidents in my past. I do not say that in a sarcastic way either. As a mother, I can understand reading horrific things in a person’s past and wanting to know more. This document gives a mere snippet into the events that occured in my life and admittedly stacked up, it can seem quite jarring.
Yes I made some terrible mistakes when I was a adolescent. Yes I made some mistakes in regards to interactions with my mental I’ll brother. And yes I was arrested for protecting myself & my infant daughter when I was leaving my abusive first marriage.
If you look further into… Read more »
Stop using your past as an excuse. You’re your own person and you need to hold accountable for your actions.
No excuses were given. I take ownership of my past.
You shouldn’t be on the pool deck near any swimmers.
Sometimes your past paves your future. Your poor choices in your past should restrict you from being near us. Just like you couldn’t be a firefighter……We want to feel SAFE! Not another para cover up again, PLEASE!
I am more than ready and willing to privately converse with you Molly about these matters. Braden has invited you to that opportunity but it seems now you have gone silent. It begs to question what are you hiding?
It seems that the Para community should be worried about someone who will bully athletes on a forum and refuse to take accountability for their own actions and words. The irony that you pass judgement on me yet I have been the one who is not hiding. Irony that you claim I am being deceptive yet you are the one remaining in the dark.
It is easy to make claims and call names behind the keyboard, but your true… Read more »
Forget her background… clearly she sandbagged her classification. She is definitely a S10. Only uses a wheelchair at meets? A joke.
What’s her impairment? She was super successful in college
Ataxia (entire body), impaired muscle power (below T5 & left arm), hypertonia (left side of body).
Traumatic brain injury in June 2008 & subsequent TBI with brain bleed in Dec 2018 with brain tumor removal in Jan 2019.
As well as spinal cord injuries with a syrinx from T5-T7 and at T10.
To the comment about sandbagging my classification, those who were in Mexico know exactly what my body went through during my classification which required the Australian physio to provide me with medical attention being that we did not bring medical staff. I was almost medically removed from competition because of how hard I pushed my body during my testing.
About my use of wheelchair, you can find… Read more »
Does your Ataxia only affect you when you’re not in a big meet? Your Mexico classification swims were dramatically different when you were being classified than this meet. Strange? You didn’t seem to need the same treatment after swimming faster in nationals. No doubt you are a para swimmer. But both in this country and internationally swimmers in the wrong classification is ruining the sport. And THEY know who they are! Looks good on paper but your left side appears just as strong as right side in the finals? I’m sorry about your past, but that has nothing to do with classification.
My ataxia (coordination) is always affecting me. And if you were someone with a neurological condition who went through classification who has hypertonia, you would understand that the extensive testing neurologically impaired athletes have to go through to show their hypertonia will cause muscles to then remain in spasm. The extensive testing neurological impaired athletes go through puts not only a neurological strain on their bodies but also physical. I was unable to straighten my left arm for two days following my testing.
Also, you are basing your assessments of my swimming now without ever seeing my swimming prior to injury. The efficiency at which I once swam is gone.
Neurological impaired athletes have been easy fodder for… Read more »
Here we go… a S10 that will be a S8 soon. After you break all the WR’s as a S9? Sandbaggers are so selfish. What about all the true classified swimmers who work so hard to compete on a level playing field.? Unbelievable.
Truth seeker again as a keyboard warrior.
I have my true name on my comments yet you hide behind anonymity on your name-calling and allegations. If you wish to libel my name, at least have the courage to hold ownership to your sentiments.
And who knows what class I will be in, but when a classifier tried to make me a 10 and couldn’t “make the numbers work” clearly not a 10.
Perhaps you are the classifier in guise who is trying to push this narrative because you couldn’t get what you wanted. Or perhaps part of the camp of that classifier? Maybe.
We will never know because unlike me, you lack the transparency to say… Read more »
Also I have a singular limb that functions properly but is still affected by ataxia, so what is the level playing field you speak of?!
Three separate eligible impairments. Not a lone impairment like so many I am currently classified with.
You are ruining the sport for everyone. People like you make us so mad. Ever heard that cheaters never win? You may be winning right now but it’ll catch-up with you. I’d personally be embarrassed to stand on the podium knowing everyone doesn’t believe you.
Exactly. There are so many talented young athletes who work their tails off only to have to deal with this toxic crap that comes up. These good young athletes do not deserve this.
Calling me a cheater behind anonymity of a forum may make you feel better about yourself, but it simply highlights the hurt you have in yourself. I hope that you discover whatever in you that is broken and heal it.
If you would like to hire a PI to follow me 24/7/365- I implore you to do so. Please find evidence to your allegations before you libel someone’s name. Provide your concrete proof that I am this cheater that you claim.
I have read through previous threads where swimmers have been dragged and called cheaters. None have ever come forward to defend themselves here because they understand nothing they say will ever sway a bully. It is far… Read more »
He sure did. He is already a convicted felon. Had he ended my life or our daughters, he would have spent more time behind bars.
We are all very happy that we got out in time before he ended our lives.
The problem with people like her is they will never realize that they are the problem. No matter what you do. They will go on and on and blame their past and never hold themselves accountable to their own actions. And I know she will read this and start defending herself and calling me out but it’s true. Eventually no matter what happens it’s still leads to you. You have to look at yourself and realize that it’s not everyone else. It’s yourself. You’re not a perfect human being and never will be. So argue all you want. But that’s the truth. And sadly people like her will never come to see it.
Syringomyelia CAN be progressive, and if it is it is very slow growing. An athlete with a syrinx should not be moving down classifications yearly. Independent and random reclassification should occur to ensure athletes are in the proper classification!
Have you been through the process of international
classification for PI?
According to the international database she was classified internationally as a 9 with a review for next year 2023. Hopefully she will get classed accurately at the Indianapolis World Series before World Championships.
I am at the meet this weekend with my daughter. I happened to come across this after hearing some parents talk.
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nj.gov/csc/about/meetings/decisions/pdf/2018/6-6-18/B-015%252006-06-18.pdf&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjpvdeE4IP8AhWoIzQIHTO9BcoQFnoECAsQAg&usg=AOvVaw0kvjQyGRnAxZUcMVKAwd2M
“In this case,
according to the police investigation report submitted by the appointing authority,
on August 15, 2012, little more than three years prior to the closing date for thesubject examination, the appellant admitted into forcing her way into the residence of her ex-husband and punching him in the mouth, which resulted in her being arrested. The appellant also admitted throwing eggs at a home she shared with a roommate because of an argument in 2007 for which she was charged with criminal mischief. Further, she was charged with… Read more »
Do athletes complete a background check prior to swimming at meets?
All adults, coaches and swimmers, had to complete a background check before attending this meet. It’s a crock that some bored people gossiping led an anonymous troll to play PI/stalker and post about old legal proceedings with a YIKES comment.
Is it considered gossip if it’s true? It’s a little rude to dig into someone’s past, but parents are allowed to be concerned for their kid’s/athlete safety. Especially with all the investigations in Paraswimming right now.
Yes. 10 years later, it is gossip. Everyone went through a background check for this meet.
Hi Jeff Baustin/Brandon Jameson, please stick to one username in the comments section. Thanks!
Safe sport background checks = complete jokes.
Swim Swam, you didn’t cover much of the national championship meet, but you’re letting this stupid post just sit there on one of the few articles you did publish. All officials, coaches and athletes (aged 18 and over) had to submit to and pass an IntelliCorp background check before being allowed to participate.
Thank you for your concern in reading into my past. I have openly shared this information on my social media so everyone can be informed as to what I have dealt with in my troubled past.
I will gladly address and explain each and every one of these incidents if the para swimming community feels it is necessary. As a mother, I would want to ensure my children were always surrounded with the best of humans, so I can understand the concern some may have in regards to things that occured when I was a minor as well as incidents that occured a decade ago when I was leaving my abusive first marriage.
Again, I am happy to… Read more »
Wow! Start protecting the ATHLETES! Read this report in the above!!!!! Not one arrest, not 2 arrests……. If you can’t be a firefighter (kinda strange you passed with a TBI….but can’t be a firefighter because of your background check then why the heck are you on the deck with us? Why are you allowed in the locker rooms? You shouldn’t be allowed on a pool deck, let alone competing as a para.
The firefighter process was prior to my brain bleed and brain surgery. Several years prior.
Also, if you look, I was arrested and then charges were dropped. One instance with a mentally ill brother and the other where I was acting in self defense as I was being beaten. That it how I pass a background check. Because I don’t have a criminal record.