Dublin’s Ellen Keane achieved an impressive double where she reached the finals of both the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Breaststroke while Northern Ireland’s Jonathan Cummings set a new personal best to finish fifth in the final of the 100m Breaststroke at the IPC Paralympic world swimming championships in Eindhoven, Holland.
Having qualified sixth fastest in the heats of both events in the morning session, Keane’s first race of the evening was the 200m Individual Medley (SM9) where she finished in sixth position with a time of 2.46.58 behind the eventual winner, world renowned swimmer and Paralympic medallist, South Africa’s Natalie Do Toit.
However, the teenager was back in the pool just over one hour later for her second final of the evening, the 100m breaststroke (SM8) finishing seventh in a time of 1.28.64. Speaking after the finals Keane commented: ‘It was a great way to finish my swims here at the world championships swimming in two finals, I swan a little slower tonight then I did in the heats this morning, but I have learned a lot from competing here to take away for my preparations towards London 2012.’
Later in the evening, Jonathan Cummings from Coalisland, Co Tyrone blazed a trail in the 100m Breaststroke (SB5 Class) finish fifth in a new personal best time. Cummings, who is back after time off with a knee injury, called on all his reserves to finish in a time of 1.54.77, over 6.3 seconds off his previous mark. A delighted Cummings said afterwards: ‘It was great to be back competing at world level again after a difficult spell with a knee injury last year, making a final and swimming a lifetime best I can’t complain with that.’
Commenting after the performances, coach Jim Laverty said: ‘Excellent swims in the heats this morning to qualify for finals tonight. Ellen worked hard in the turns so it’s adding experience for her to take away from here. As for Jonathan, he swam a superbly to qualify for tonight’s final, where he rose to the occasion and used all his experience to pull a pb out in the final and finish one place higher in 5th. We are very happy with the performances.’
