Swimming:There was mixed news from the pool on the opening day of the European Short Course Championships in Istanbul where six new Irish records were set but all of those in action failed to advance from their respective heats.
Grainne Murphy clocked a time of 2.14.06 in the 200m Individual Medley to set a new Junior Irish record but the Limerick swimmer finished 21st overall.
Michael Dawson set a new personal best (1.00.96) and lowered Andrew Bree’s Irish record by over two seconds in the 100m breaststroke, while Stephen McQuillan lined-out in the 100m butterfly and broke his old national record (54.06) by 0.15 seconds but failed to advance from the heats.
Donal O'Neill broke his own 50m backstroke record in the lead leg in the men's 4x50 metre medley relay with a time of 24.81, while the Irish team (Conor Leaney, Dawson, McQuillan and O’Neill) swam a time of 1.38.84 to shave almost two seconds off the old Irish record.
Aisling Cooney and Melanie Nocher competed in the 100m backstroke and finished 1.00.35 and 1.00.85 respectively.
Leaney’s first race of the championships was the 400m freestyle where he touched the wall in 3.55.01.
Clare Dawson (55.24), Niamh O’Sullivan (58.08), Nocher (55.66) and Cooney (56.41) raced in the 100m freestyle to complete the individual line-up for the Irish on day one.
“Today was a good start to the four-day meet,” said Peter Banks, Irish coach and National Performance Director. “We had good results with six Irish records being set and we’re moving up the rankings.
“Tomorrow (Friday) and over the next few days though we’ll really be looking to improve on times so that we can qualify for the semis and finals - that is our ultimate goal.”
Donal O’Neill (50m backstroke), Conor Leaney and Steven McQuillan (100m freestyle), Grainne Murphy and Nuala Murphy (800m freestyle) and the Women’s 4x50m freestyle team relay are all in action in Istanbul tomorrow.