By Paul Osborne

Rebecca Meyers was on of three Americans to set a world record on the opening day of the the US Paralympics Spring Swimming National Championships/Spring CanAms in Miami ©Getty ImagesMarch 27 - Three world records have fallen on day one of the US Paralympics Spring Swimming National Championships/Spring CanAms at Miami's Ransom Everglades School, as America's top Para-swimmers battle for a spot in the national team for the Pan Pacific Para-Swimming Championships in August.

America's young phenomenon Kayla Wheeler began the world record breaking day with a time of 1 min 45.27sec in the women's 50 metres butterfly S2 preliminary race, narrowly breaking the 1:45.84 world record she set in September 2013.

She then followed this up with a second world record time in the same event, finishing the final in an impressive 1:41.08.

Double world champion Rebecca Meyers impressed in the women's S12 1,500m freestyle as she swam a 17:53.90 in the morning session to smash the previous world record of 19:41.95, set by American Elizabeth Scott in September 2000.

"It was incredible," Meyers said.

"I'm happy that I finally set a world record in that event.

"I've been working for that for the last couple years so I'm just really happy I was able to swim a world record time."

Olympic and world champion Ian Silverman swam an impressive 16:19.70 in the 1,500m freestyle to break his previous world record by more than four seconds ©Getty ImagesOlympic and world champion Ian Silverman swam an impressive 16:19.70 in the 1,500m freestyle to break his previous world record by more than four seconds ©Getty Images



Not to be beaten by his training partner, reigning Olympic and world 400m freestyle S10 champion Ian Silverman followed Meyer's performance with a record setter of his own in the men's 1,500m freestyle S10.

He swam a 16:19.70, easily breaking the 16:24.63 mark he set at last year's nationals/Spring CanAms.

As well as the three world records, the opening day of the Championships also saw a number of other records broken including Michelle Konkoly's 1:03.94 American record in the women's 100m freestyle S9; Leslie Cichocki's 1:07.53 American record in the women's 100m freestyle S14; Tharon Drake's 1:16.02 American and Pan American record in the men's 100m breaststroke SB11; and Letticia Martinez's 1:16.49 American record in the women's 100m freestyle S11.

Despite not breaking any records of her own, 12-time Paralympic champion Jessica Long, who holds 13 world records and is a two-time US Paralympic Sports Woman of the Year, marked her return to the pool with a comfortable win in the 100m S8 freestyle event, blowing away the field by more than four seconds.

"I love to swim," Long said.

"It's great to be here in this atmosphere, swimming at such a large meet, but I am definitely feeling Sochi.

"Going to Russia as a commentator for NBC was such a great experience.

"I'm so thankful for the opportunity even if it was a little brutal getting in the pool and competing today.

"I've only been swimming for about four days for this meet so I'm slowly getting into a rhythm.

"I'm getting back into my routine and I'm building up for Pan Pacs and eventually for Rio [2016 Paralympic Games]."

More than 200 athletes from Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Russia and the United States are competing in Miami with the competition set to continue until tomorrow.

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