Nocher gets set for final

By John Kenny

Melanie Nocher is the sixth fastest qualifier into the final of the Women’s 100 metres backstroke on the final day of the Dutch National Swimming championships, an Olympic qualifying meet in Eindhoven.

Nocher has already missed out on qualifying for London in her favourite event, the Women’s 200 metres backstroke, and she would have to go below 1:00.82 to make the Olympic A qualifying standard.

Sycreika Mc Mahon is through to the final of the Women’s 50 metres Breaststroke, which is a non-Olympic event.

Ireland will also have a squad in the fastest heat of the Women’s 4x200 metres freestyle this afternoon.

On Saturday Grainne Murphy made the A standard in the Women’s 800 metres freestyle in Eindhoven and became the second Irish swimmer, along with Barry Murphy in the 100 Breaststroke, to dip under the qualification standard.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, 2008 Beijing Olympian Andrew Bree finished fifth in the B final of the Men’s 200 Breaststroke at the US winter nationals.

His time of 2:15.62 was some way short of the A standard time for the event in which he was placed 12th overall in China, four years ago.