World record by Evan Wilkerson highlights final day of 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships

WALNUT, Calif. – Team USA continued its record-setting weekend Sunday at the 2026 Para Pan Pacific Championships, highlighted by a world-record performance from Paralympian Evan Wilkerson (Wake Forest, North Carolina) and seven more American records to round out competition at Mt. San Antonio College. 

Wilkerson took down the men’s 100-meter backstroke S11 world record, establishing a new mark of 1:04.84 in the prelims. He later would lower the mark by more than two seconds in the finals, setting a new world record of 1:02.62 pending classification review. 

“It gives me a ton of confidence as we move toward LA. I was a little apprehensive about swimming outside in this pretty brutal heat,” Wilkerson said. “After training at altitude for four months and being reclassified as an S11 about a month ago, I was able to come here, break the world record in prelims and then go even faster in finals. It gives me a lot of confidence in this event and sets me up well as I work toward LA.” 

Katie Kubiak (Cedarburg, Wisconsin) collected her fifth record of the weekend in prelims, smashing the women’s 200 individual medley SM5 American record by more than 13 seconds with a time of 3:29.68, then set her sixth American record of the meet as she lowered that mark to 3:27.29 in the finals. 

Paralympian Olivia Chambers (Little Rock, Arkansas) raced to her third American record of the weekend, clocking 28.50 in the women’s 50 freestyle S12 in the prelims, only to improve upon that time in the finals with a new mark of 28.34.  

Piper Sadowski (Grand Rapids, Michigan) also secured her third American record of the meet, setting two American records on Sunday. She claimed the American record in the women’s 200 individual medley SM14 with a time of 2:44.68 and went on to set an additional American record in the S14 100 backstroke with a time of 1:12.99. 

Mallory Weggeman (Eagen, Minnesota)  found her way back to the podium on night three, taking home the gold after an impressive 2:54.60 in the 200 individual medley (SM7).  

“I’m really excited to be here. Having Para Pan Pacs on home soil two years out from LA28 is really exciting. Seeing the team and everybody together, you can feel the energy. We’re marching toward a home Games, and I think that’s awesome,” Mallory Weggema said. 

“Personally, I’m really jazzed. I had a coaching change this year, and Ben and I have been working really hard, but we’ve also been creating a lot of space for my family and me this summer. I’ve realized that while I’m in this pursuit of LA, it’s also Charlotte’s childhood, and I’m trying really hard to find that balance. This summer, I downshifted in training a little bit. The intention was to see how intentional we could be and what that would mean for my performance. To be swimming these times right now while training through a competition, and knowing where we are and how we approached the summer, gives me a lot of confidence moving forward toward LA.” 

Adding an American record to the tally, Paralympian Ali Truwit (Darien, Connecticut) broke her own American record, setting a new mark in the S10 100 backstroke in a time of 1:08.40, earning herself her second silver medal of the weekend. Teammate Gia Pergolini (Atlanta, Georgia) joined Truwit on the podium in the 100 back (S13), taking third with a time of 1:06.21.  

Following three days of competition, Team USA ended even with Brazil in the team medal count behind Australia, winning 6 golds, 5 silver and 5 bronze medals.   

For complete results from day three, visit USParaSwimming.org.   
  
For interview and photo requests, please contact Ike.Hartman@usopc.org.