SWIMMING Dawson makes European Championship Qualifying Cut

Irish record holder (100m freestyle) Clare Dawson was the number one seed leading into today’s 200m Freestyle final and clocked a time of 2.00.48 in the final to finish second to European record holder Scottish-based Hannah Miley (2.00.20). Dawson, who claimed the National title in the event also achieved her European Championship qualifying time, for this summer’s European showdown.

15-year old swimming sensation Sycerika McMahon (Leander swim team) was in top form on day one of the four-day Championships, coming head to head with representatives from the NCSA All Star Team, in the Women’s 50m Breaststroke final. McMahon who claimed the National title, touched the wall in second place (32.79) behind Emily Fogle (32.69) NCSA and ahead of Sarah Haase (33.09) NCSA.

Andrew Meegan (Aer Lingus sc and UL-High Performance Centre) fought off two Americans in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle final, to take first place in a time of 15:49.18 - just one second ahead of Daniel Thomson (15.50.23). Meegan was also in action in the Men’s 200m Butterfly final, where he was the fastest of the Irish, finishing in 3rd place (2.07.54) behind Matthew Barber (2:04.93) NCSA and Matthew Belecanech (2:06.21) NCSA.

In the relays, the first Men’s Irish team home in the 4x100m freestyle was Ards swim team (3.35.06) and in the Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay the Irish National title went to ESB swimming club (4.03.55).

Swim Ireland’s Irish Long Course National Championships continue tomorrow at the National Aquatic Centre, Dublin.