In 1997, Longstaff won the silver medal in the 200 metres disabled freestyle event at that year's National Youth Swimming Championships in Regina, Saskatchewan.[10] She went on to finish first in the women's 400 metres freestyle at the same meet in a time of 6 minutes, 23.46 seconds.[11] Longstaff then won the bronze in the women's 100 metres freestyle. She was chosen to represent Canada at the U.S Nationals in Springfield, Massachusetts during mid-July 1997.[12] There, Longstaff won the silver medal in the women's 100 metres freestyle and a bronze in the women's 50-metre S7 competition in the disability category.[13][14] At the 1997 Canada Summer Games held in Brandon, Manitoba, she took silver in the women's 100 metres breaststroke and the women's 100 freestyle competitions for those with a disability.[15][16]
When competing at the 1998 Canadian Youth and Disabled Swimming Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Longstaff claimed the silver medal in the women's 200-metre freestyle event,[17] and two gold medals in each of the women's 400-metre freestyle meet in a time of 6 minutes, 0:49 seconds,[18] and the women's 800 metres freestyle competition.[19] Her performances at the competition meant she was within the qualifying standards for the 1998 IPC Swimming World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.[20] Longstaff won two gold medals in each of the women's 4 x 100 metres freestyle open alongside Danielle Campo, Anne Polinario and Jessica Sloan and the women's 400-metre freestyle S7 events.[2][6] She had broken the women's 400-metre freestyle world record by almost six seconds.[5] After that, Longstaff did not complete in swimming events for two weeks following a 13-month period of training at the North Surrey Recreation Centre.[6]
She was nominated for the BC Athlete of the Year in the disabled athlete category in early 1999.[21] At the 1999 Canadian National Championships for Swimmers with a Disability in Victoria, British Columbia, Longstaff won gold medals in each of the women's 200 metres freestyle,[22] the women's 400-metre freestyle,[23] and the women's 800-metre freestyle,[24] breaking the latter world record by four seconds.[3] She qualified for the U.S. National Championships for Swimmers with a Disability as a consequence of her performances in Victoria.[25] Longstaff set a new record in winning the gold medal of the 400 metres freestyle S7 event.[26] She later qualified to compete for Canada at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia and partook in the women's 50-metre, 100-metre and 400-metre events.[4] Longstaff was one of 31 athletes coming from British Columbia to participate in the quadrennial event.[27] She won the bronze medal in the women's 400-metre freestyle S7 competition.[2]
