Irish Olympian Aisling Cooney established a new Irish senior record of 29.11 in the Women’s 50m Backstroke today on the penultimate evening of the Irish Short Course National Swimming Championships in Lisburn.
Cooney shaved two tenths of a second off the existing record which was previously held by Melanie Nocher.
Nuala Murphy led from the start to win gold in the final of the Women’s 800m Freestyle. Murphy’s time of 8.54.65 was a new seven second personal best time.
It was a clean sweep for the City of Belfast in the final of the Men’s 100m Freestyle when they took the top three spots.
Conor Leaney established a new Irish junior record of 50.41 to take gold. Second place went to his team mate Iain Chisholm (51.57) and third place finisher was Gavin Williamson (52.23).
Aisling Cooney was in top form when she impressively clocked a new personal best time of 56.10 in the Women’s 100m Freestyle final to clinch the National title.
Minutes later she stepped up to the blocks as the fastest qualifier of the Women’s 100m Butterfly and won the event with a 1.01.56.
Sisters Niamh (1.02.13) and Laura (1.03.27) McDonnell both representing Cormorant swimming club finished in second and third place respectively.
The final of the Men’s 100m Butterfly was possibly the most exciting race of the evening.
Fastest qualifier Donal O’Neill led at the half way mark but was chased rapidly by Ards man Stephen McQuillan and the two swimmers were neck and neck with 25m to go.
McQuillan powered home and edged past O’Neill to touch the wall first in a time of 54.65. O’Neill finished in 55.01. Third place went to Kevin Stacey representing NUI Maynooth Devils.
