SWIMMING Cooney Breaks 60 Second Barrier at Irish Short Course Nationals

The Irish Short Course National Championships concluded today with Irish Olympian Aisling Cooney of ESB swimming club today becoming the first Irish woman to break the 60 second mark in the final of the women's 100m Backstroke, finishing in a new Irish Senior Record time of 59.89. Cooney, who had already broken the record in the heats yesterday, finished ahead of Niamh McDonnell of Aer Lingus (1:03.82) and Jane Roberts of Kilkenny (1:05.03).

Leander swimmer Sycerika McMahon continued her fantastic form in the final day of competition, breaking Irish Junior Records and winning the gold medals in the finals of the women's 400m Individual Medley (4:51.83) and 100m Breaststroke (1:09.68), finishing ahead of Alison Todd of City of Belfast swimming club and Shani Stallard of New Ross swimming club in both events. McMahon then went on to break yet another Irish Junior Record, finishing second in the final of the 200m Freestyle in a time of 2:00.86. Winning that event was Aisling Cooney in a time of 2:00.41.

The exciting 50m Freestyle events also produced great performances. The men's event was won by Conor Leaney of Larne in a time of 22.76, with Botonde Solymossy of Westwood in second (23.13) and Craig Meek of Leander in third place (23.21). The women's event was won by Waterford Crystal swimmer Shauna O'Brien (26.75) ahead of Emily Heyburn of City of Belfast in second (27.11) and India McGlynn of ESB swimming club in third (27.13).

In the final event of the evening, Donal O'Neill broke the Irish Senior Record in the 100m Backstroke in the first leg of the men's 400m Medley Relay, finishing in a time of 53.39. O'Neill's club, Trojan, went on to win the event in a new Irish Senior Relay Record time of 3:45.60. Second place went to Ards swim team in a new Irish Junior Record time of 3:55.66, with Aer Lingus in third place.

The Larry Williamson perpetual trophy for Swimmer of the Meet was awarded to Aisling Coney for her fantastic performances over the 4 day event, which included 2 new Irish Senior Records. Cooney will travel as part of the Irish team to Istanbul, Turkey, next month to compete in the European Short Course Championships.