December 18, 2020
Two more Irish Senior Records fell at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin this evening with Jack McMillan and Brendan Hyland impressing as the format switched back to long course (50m).
McMillan, who set a new short course (25m) standard in the 200m Freestyle earlier today, smashed out a new long course record in the final in 1:47.19 and now stands just .17 away from the Olympic A time of 1:47.02. The previous record, held by McMillan’s Bangor team-mate Jordan Sloan, had stood at 1:47.41 since 2017.
Brendan Hyland, swimming for National Centre Dublin, broke his first record of the year in the 100m Butterfly after a cracking final with team-mate Shane Ryan. Hyland owned the previous record of 52.62 from the 2018 National Championships, tonight he lowered the time to 52.58 with Ryan second in 52.98.
Speaking after his race Hyland commented ‘It’s been 10 months since any sort of competition for me, and then it’s 2019 summer since I did a long course, proper tapered meet, so I was nervous. I had a bit of doubt – what if I didn’t have it? You get nervous because you haven’t raced, but I’ve stuck the head down for a couple of months and I’m glad it’s paid off.
The Tallaght native continued ‘I love racing and I just got out and enjoyed it, and it was .1 of a new PB and a new Irish record. Sometimes that’s the little bit of luck you need, to give you the confidence to press on. I’m absolutely delighted. Shane (Ryan) obviously swam unbelievably for the whole ISL (International Swimming League) and he’s been in my ear about this 100 fly for about six months. Ben [Higson, head coach] reminded me to stick to my race, so I was out a bit behind, but I think that’s the fastest back end I’ve had ever.’
Hyland returns tomorrow for his main event, the 200m Butterfly.
National Centre Dublin’s Darragh Greene, already under the Olympic qualification time in the 100m Breaststroke, won that event in 1:00.52 with Eoin Corby, who has already broke two Irish Junior Records this weekend so far, second in 1:01.35. In the Women’s 200m Breaststroke, Niamh Coyne cruised to victory in 2:30.39.
Ards’ Victoria Catterson claimed victory in the 100m Freestyle with a personal best time of 56.31, just three tenths of a second off Danielle Hills National Record of 56.01. Cookstown’s Calum Bain won the 50m Freestyle in 22.81.
Amelia Kane took two wins this evening in the 200m Butterfly (2:21.05) and 400m Freestyle (4:28.80) and in the 200m Backstroke, National Centre Dublin’s Sean Scannell was just half a second away from his best time touching in 2:03.93.
Banbridge’s Julia Knox won a close tie with Ards’ Rebecca Reid in the 200m Individual Medley. Knox clocked 2:20.98 with Reid just behind in 2:21.79.
The final event of the evening saw National Centre Limericks Cadan McCarthy touch in 4:38.32 in the 400m Individual Medley.
Swimmers will compete in tomorrow morning’s heats in short course format (25m).
Full Results available HERE.
