Irish Ladies Qualify for Euro Final
The Irish swimming squad were celebrating further today as the women's 4x200m Women's Freestyle relay team qualified Ireland for a first ever relay team in a European Final at the European Swimming Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. The team of Sycerika McMahon, Melanie Nocher, Nuala Murphy and Bethany Carson posted a time of 8:13.30 to qualify in 7th place into this evening's final. The relay team are Swim Ireland's third final at this Championship so far in what is fast becoming the most successful Irish team ever at a Europeans.
The team, racing at 17.30 in today's final, will need to finish within the top four to give themselves the best chance at qualification. Qualification for the Olympics is based on the top 16 in the world, twelve teams have already qualified at the World Championships in 2011, which leaves just four places. It will be June 1st before the top 16 places are confirmed.
Even more good news for the Irish this morning as both Shani Stallard (2:31.87) and Fiona Doyle (2:32.30) qualified in 13th and 16th places into the semi-final of the 200m Breaststroke this afternoon. Doyle will compete in the first semi-final taking place at 17:09, Stallard is in the second semi-final.