GATINEAU, Que. _ A world record fell and several of Canada’s swimmers heading to this summer’s Paralympics showed their training is on track during Friday’s opening day of the 2016 Speedo Can Am Para-swimming Championships.

Tammy Cunnington of Red Deer, Alta., twice broke her own world record in the S4 50-metre butterfly. She swam 52.09 in the evening finals after being clocked in 52.70 in the morning heats. That broke the world-record time of 52.90 she set at the Para-swimming trials in April at Toronto.

“It’s exciting to have the consistency to be going faster than I was at trials” said the 40-year-old Cunnington. “It means a lot because it’s going to be important to go fast in the morning and faster again at night in Rio.”

Veteran Benoit Huot of Longueuil, Que., swimming with a full beard, won the men’s S10 400-m freestyle in four minutes, 18.63 seconds. It was his best in-season time since 2012.

“I’m very pleased,” said Huot, who will be competing in his fifth Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro this summer. “It’s good, especially with this big beard.

“It was a solid race tonight.”

Isaac Bouckley of Port Hope, Ont., who will be Huot’s teammate in Rio, was second in 4:32.69.

“It’s exciting to have the consistency to be going faster than I was at trials” said the 40-year-old Cunnington. “It means a lot because it’s going to be important to go fast in the morning and faster again at night in Rio.”

In a battle of Paralympic team teammates, Morgan Bird won the S8 400-m freestyle. Sabrina Duchesne was second while Abi Tripp was third.

Bird’s time of 5:19.32 was the fastest she has swam since the 2012 Paralympics in London, where she finished fourth.

“Swimming with my teammates makes a really big difference in a positive way,” said the Calgary resident. “Racing with them side by side helps put me in the zone.”

Duchesne of St-Augustin, Que., was timed in 5:27.67 while Tripp, of Kingston, Ont., was 5:32.81.

Danielle Dorris of Moncton, N.B., won the 100-m butterfly. The 13-year-old, who is the youngest member of this year’s Para-swimming team, was timed in 1:22.56,

Craig McCord, head coach of Swimming Canada’s Para-swimming team, was satisfied with the opening day results.

“We had some strong, mid-season performances from the Para-swimmers,” said McCord. “The racing will get better as the weekend goes on.

“We are often a little soft on the first day. We expect to get faster over the next two days.”

The event, being held at the Centre sportif de Gatineau, has attracted 120 swimmers from six countries.

For the 22 members of the Canadian team that will compete this summer in Rio de Janeiro, the Can Ams is a training event.

For other Canadians competing this weekend, it’s a chance to gain results to help secure funding for next season. Athletes are also posting times to help them qualify for the NextGen Camp program for the coming year.

In other events:

_ Two swimmers from St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., took top place in the S14 200-m freestyle. Justine Morrier won the women’s race in 2:30.25. Maxime Rousselles won the men’s event in 2:05.17. Paralympic team member Gordie Michie of St. Thomas, Ont., was second in 2:07.43.

_ Tess Routliffe of Caledon, Ont., won the women’s S7 400-m freestyle in 5:51.15.

_ Devin Gotell of Antigonish, N.S., won the S13 400-m in 4:44.39.

_ Katarina Roxon of Kippens, N.L. won the S9 100-m fly in 1:16.58.

_ In the men’s 100-m fly, Alec Elliot of Kitchener, Ont., won the S10 race in 59.42 seconds while Nicolas-Guy Turbide of Quebec City took the S13 in 1:04.85.

_ Sarah Mehain of Vernon, B.C., won the women’s S7 50-m butterfly in 37.07 seconds while Nathan Clement of West Vancouver took the men’s S6 in 34.65.

The competition continues Saturday and Sunday with morning preliminary heats beginning at 9:30 a.m. ET and finals starting at 6 p.m. ET. For full results and more information visit https://results.swimming.ca/2016_Can_Ams/.