Thursday, February 27, 2020

Irish and British Swimmers on Form in Bangor as Olympic Preparations Ramp Up


Irish and British stars topped the podium as the first Finals session of the 2020 McCullagh International took place at the Bangor Aurora in Co. Down this morning. The Meet is replicating the same format that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will run in July, with heats in the evening and finals the next morning. Ireland’s own Olympic trials will take place from 1-5 April at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.
2018 Commonwealth Champion in the 400IM, Aimee Wilmott, cruised to the first win of the morning in 4:39.63. The Stirling swimmer lead a British trio of medallists with Aberdeen’s Hannah Miley second in 4:44.60 and Scottish junior Katie Shanahan third in 4:47.95.
Larne’s Danielle Hill and Stirling’s Kathleen Dawson could not be separated in the Women’s 50m Backstroke. The duo went stroke for stroke in the Final, sharing the top spot on the podium in 28.35. Loughborough’s Joe Litchfield won the men’s equivalent in 25.62.
Olympic silver medallist Duncan Scott dominated the Men’s 100m Freestyle Final, the Stirling swimmer touched the wall in 48.86 ahead of National Centre Dublin’s Shane Ryan in 59.92. Bangor’s Jack McMillan claimed the bronze in a best time of 49.97, his first swim to go under 50 seconds in the event. Marlin’s Mona McSharry took the win in the women’s event in 57.05, ahead of Kilkenny’s Maria Godden (57.58).
Max Litchfield and Edward Mildred were the only two swimmers under two minutes in the Men’s 200m Butterfly, winning gold and silver. Litchfield (1:59.53) of Loughborough and Mildred (1:59.97) of Northampton were chased down the final length by Irish Record holder Brendan Hyland, who claimed bronze in 2:00.04. Welsh International Alys Thomas took the honours in the women’s final in 2:10.07 ahead of Loughborough’s Charlotte Atkinson in 2:11.47.
In a world class 100m Breaststroke field, Olympic and World Champion Adam Peaty won gold in 58.78, the fastest time ever swam on Irish soil. Peaty’s Loughborough team-mate and world silver medallist James Wilby was second in 59.91 with Stirling’s Ross Murdoch taking bronze in 1:00.54. Ireland’s Darragh Greene (1:01.12) and Eoin Corby (1:01.64) were in impressive early season form in fourth and fifth.
Another Olympic medallist was on the podium for the women’s 100m Breaststroke Final as Siobhan Marie O’Connor and Sarah Vasey both touched the wall in 1:08.15, Vasey the current 50m Breaststroke Commonwealth Champion. McSharry was back on the podium for her second medal, bronze in 1:08.20.
Today’s distance events saw Sunderland’s Daniel Jervis seal gold well clear of the rest of the field in 7:50.73 while local Amelia Kane of Ards took the women’s 1500m Freestyle gold in 17:29.12.
Competition continues this evening with Day 2 Heats from 4.30pm.
Results Day 2 Finals
Women 400m IM: 1^st A Wilmott Stirling 4:39.63 2^nd H Miley Aberdeen 4:44.60 3^rd K Shanahan Scotland 4:47.95
Men 50m Backstroke: 1^st J Litchfield Loughborough 25.62 2^nd N Pyle Stirling 25.79 3^rd L Greenbank Loughborough 26.14
Women 50m Backstroke: 1^st D Hill Larne & K Dawson Stirling 28.35 3^rd H West Loughborough 28.97
Men 100m Freestyle: 1^st D Scott Stirling 48.86 2^nd S Ryan National Centre Dublin 49.92 3^rd J McMillan Bangor 49.97
Women 100m Freestyle: 1^st M McSharry Marlins 57.05 2^nd M Godden Kilkenny 57.58 3^rd C Morris Wales 57.97
Men 200m Butterfly: 1^st M Litchfield Loughborough 1:59.53 2^nd E Mildred Northampton 1:59.97 3^rd B Hyland National Centre Dublin 2:00.04
Women 200m Butterfly: 1^st A Thomas Sunderland 2:10.07 2^nd C Atkinson Loughborough 2:11.47 3^rd H Miley Aberdeen 2:16.16
Men 100m Breaststroke: 1^st A Peaty Loughborough 58.78 2^nd J Wilby Loughborough 59.91 3^rd R Murdoch Stirling 1:00.54
Women 100m Breaststroke: 1^st SM O’Connor Loughborough & S Vasey Loughborough 1:08.15 3^rd M McSharry Marlins 1:08.20
Men 800m Freestyle: 1^st D Jervis Sunderland 7:50.73 2^nd D Marotta Wales 8:28.10 3^rd J O’Rourke Northampton 8:30.80
Women 1500m Freestyle: 1^st A Kane Ards 17:29.12 2^nd K Bailey Perth City 17:35.87 3^rd G Hodgins Trojan 17:56.13

Meet Information
The McCullagh International Meet is being delivered in the same format that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be run with heats in the evening and finals the next morning.

Full meet information available HERE (https://www.swimireland.ie/news/how-to-follow-mccullagh-international-live?utm_source=PR+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=f802273fb0-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_02_21_01_16&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0f0b9dcf8d-f802273fb0-229563941&mc_cid=f802273fb0&mc_eid=[UNIQID])

Issued by Swim Ireland, whose Performance Programme is supported and funded by Sport Ireland & Sport Northern Ireland.


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