The 2023 Irish Youth and Summer National Championships reached the halfway mark today with another action-packed schedule at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.
The Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay closed out this morning’s session with Jack Fleming, Adam Colgan, Daniel Edgar and James Allison of Lisburn touching first with 7:50.68 and winning gold, New Ross clocked a combined 8:07.81 to take silver with bronze going to Limerick in a time of 8:09.31. Two commemorative medals were awarded to Coolmine and Hamilton respectively.
The Men’s 1500 Freestyle was the only medal opportunity in this afternoon’s session with the 15 yrs taking to the blocks first. Kilkenny’s Paddy Cuddihy clocked 17:03.49 to take the national gold, silver went to Ards swimmer Ben Wilson (17:16.13), while the bronze medal went to Liam O’Connor (17:29.37) of Kingdom. In the 16 yrs, Limerick’s Daragh Horgan touched in 17:27.56 to win gold, in second was Tony Cascante (Coolmine) with 17:34.54 and third going to Sergi Riznichenko with 17:42.34. 17 yrs gold went to Emmet Cousins (New Ross) in 16:57.20, Sunday Wells swimmer, Sean Bugler was next to touch in 17:08.59, bronze went to Tristan Egan (17:57.50) of Aer Lingus.
Another Aer Lingus swimmer was on the podium, this time it was a national gold for Ben Moran (16:34.35), Ronan Fahey (Trojan) was next in with 16:47.96, Daniel Edgar (Lisburn) was next to touch the wall with 17:09.07.
Following his 800 Freestyle national gold two days ago, a time that was also a consideration time for both the 2024 World Championships and 2023 European Short Course Championships, Nathan Wiffen returned to the blocks for the Men’s 1500 Freestyle, Wiffen clocked 15:21.11 to take home another national gold medal. Patrick Ferrie claimed the national silver with 17:27.26, bronze went to Cory Fines (18:00.56) of Leander. Czech visitor, Danylo Chobanian was awarded a commemorative medal for his time of 16:14.62.
There was an electric start to this evening’s finals as the Men’s 50 Backstroke opened the night, Euan MacLeod of ESB went quickest with 26.20 to claim national gold, Senan Noonan of Aer Lingus was next to touch with 27.68 and Fionn Byrne (NAC) went 27.82 for the second time today to claim bronze. Jason Mahmutoglu (Chelsea Westminster) bagged a commemorative medal with 26.77.
Sticking with the Backstroke, the Girl’s 50 Backstroke took to the blocks next, National Centre Limerick swimmer Maria Godden, who recently posted a time2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha and the 2023 European Short Course Championships, clocked 29.03 to take the national gold tonight. Cora Rooney (Enniskillen) and Jena Macdougland (UCD) both tied for silver with 29.57.
There was a change of events as the Men’s 100 Freestyle took to the NAC blocks next, Ian Middleton (Glenalbyn) went 55.34 to win the 15 yrs national gold, next to touch was Longford man Ashley Weafer (55.84) with Ryan Griffin (55.95) of Cookstown in third and picking up bronze. Hamilton swimmer, Hussein Shawky was awarded a commemorative medal with 52.97.
Noah Switzer of Dolphin went 53.57 to take the 16 yrs national gold, Fionn Byrne (NAC) upgraded his bronze for silver clocking 54.14 and third went to Daniel Harvey 54.68 of Ards. There was another commemorative medal awarded to Hamilton as Rohayem Tolba went 52.50. National Centre (Limerick) swimmer and Conor Fitzgerald went 51.78 to bag the gold medal in the 17 yrs, Killia O’Loughlin Brophy claimed second place with 53.23 and third went to Sean O’Connor in 54.27.
The winner of the 18 yrs was New Ross man Evan Bailey swimming a 51.27 to take the gold, his recent European Junior teammate Oisin Tebite (NAC) went 52.62, both swimmers will represent once again in a fortnight at the LEN U23 European Championships. Taking the third podium spot was another European Junior representative, Adam Colgan (53.12) of Lisburn.
Calum Bain claimed his second national gold of the competition with a time of 50.15 in the 19 yrrs, Gerry Quinn of Longford went 50.49 to take home silver while 19-year-old Thomas Leggett (Larne) touched in 51.18 to claim bronze.
Moving on from the sprint events, the Women’s 400 Freestyle was next on the schedule, Holly McInerney (Templeogue) was first home in 4:31.37, next in was Ava Rock (4:35.88) of New Ross and third place was claimed by Eva Hand (4:38.31) of Bangor, all three swimmers went quicker than this morning. Neasa Godden (4:39.14) of Kilkenny and Sligo girl Clara Doherty (4:39.46) went stroke for stroke, Godden touching first to claim the the 16 yrs to claim national gold, bronze went to Katie Prunty with 4:44.20. Holly Robson (Lisburn) was awarded a commemorative medal with 4:43.70. The 17 yrs gold went to Rebekah Friel (Trojan) in 4:33.08, Caoimhe Doyle took the silver in a time of 4:40.66 with bronze going to Leanna Liddane (Limerick) in 4:44.79. Jessica Robson (Lisburn) went 4:43.70 to claim a commemorative medal.
There was another Godden girl on the podium, this time it was Neasa’s older sister Maria, who put on a dominant display in the 18 yrs and over final, clocking 4:16.25 on her way to gold. Her nearest competitor was National Centre (Limerick) teammate, Ella Carroll who came home in 4:32.84, there was a clean sweep for Munster as Hannah O’Shea of Dolphin bagged bronze (4:34.93).
The Men’s 200 Breaststroke was next on the agenda as Alan Karchenko of Banbridge went 2:36.10 to take the 15 yrs gold, Aaron Haire of Bangor was next to touch in a time of 4:40.88 with bronze going to Ards swimmer Mathias Pickett (2:41.75). Chelsea Westminster swimmer Daniel Streltsov was awarded a commemorative medal with 2:39.27. The 16 yrs national gold went to Dominic Hilton (Trojan) in 2:28.94, Ryan McDowell, representing Ards placed second with a time of 2:34.28, Ricky Finn 2:35.74 of Dolphin was next to touch in third place. Benji Cummings (Ards) went 2:27.79 to take the top spot on the podium in the 17 yrs event, Senan Harvey clocked 2:31.42 to take the national silver home and bronze went to Swilly Seals swimmer Cillian Murphy (2:32.83).
A dominant display from Terenure man Liam O’Connor saw him take the 18 yrs gold with a time of 2:20.15, another swimmer who will feature in Dublin for the U23 European Championships. The national silver medal went to John Mulhall of Trojan in a time of 2:29.99 with bronze going to Callum Slagter (2:37.74) of Bangor.
There was another thrilling breaststroke battle tonight, this time it was the 19 yrs and over going stroke for stroke for national honours. Eoin Corby (National Centre Limerick) was first to touch in 2:12.89, Uiseann Cooke (Tuam) finished second with 2:14.64, third went to National Centre Limerick’s Andrew Feenan (2:15.69).
The final event of the evening was the Women’s 200 Breaststroke as the 15 yrs national gold went to Jane Ryan of Athlone with a time of 2:50.62, Kate McDade (Enniskillen) went 2:54.52 with silver and bronze was claimed by Julia Warchol (2:56.75) of Longford. Abril Allende of Trojan went 2:49.65 to claim a commemorative medal.
Laura Csarodai-Nagy clocked 2:44.41 to take the 16 yrs back to New Ross, Ellie Campbell of Trojan went 2:48.13 in second and third was claimed by Longford’s Rionagh McCormack (2:56.26). The 17 yrs national gold was won by Megan Jones of Portmarnock with a time of 2:42.28, a mere .2 ahead of Aoife Doran (2:42.30) of Aer Lingus, Keira Aiken (Ards) went 2:44.41 to claim bronze.
The 18 yrs and over brought the curtain down on day three of the competition with Niamh Coyne with a dominant display in her home pool with a time of 2:30.60, next to touch was Olwyn Cooke (Limerick) in a time of 2:33.06 while Molly Mayne (Templeogue) claimed the national bronze in 2:36.75.
