Meegan, Hyland & Coulter Smash Irish Records at US Open

Ireland's swimmers got off to great start at the US Open in Irvine, California yesterday with three new National records from the 12 strong team.

Brendan Hyland was first up in the 200m Butterfly, his main event. The 18 year old made it out of the morning heats and into the afternoon B final in a time of 1:59.98, just outside his Irish Record of 1:59.92 set at the European Junior Swimming Championships in July 2012. Hyland put in a blistering performance in the Final to finish 3rd in the Final and 11th overall in a new Irish Senior and Junior Record of 1:59.14.

Andrew Meegan, who was has been showing fine form throughout 2013, was the fifth fastest entry in the 1500m Freestyle event placing him straight into the final of the distance race. The World University Games finalist put in the swim of his life knocking almost five seconds off his previous record of 15:24.56 set earlier this month, to finish fifth overall in an new Irish Senior Record of 15:19.89. Meegan, 23, has broken the 1500m Freestyle Irish Record four times in 2013 knocking over 20 seconds off his 2012 record of 15:42.33 so far.

In the morning heats Ards SC swimmer Curtis Coulter set a new junior standard in the 100m Freestyle. 18 year old Coulter held the previous record of 50.82 which he set at Irish Nationals in April, he recorded a new time of 50.72 to finish 33rd overall.