SWIMMING:AISLING COONEY continued her preparations for next month's European Short Course (25 metres) championships in Istanbul with an impressive win in the 200 metres backstroke on the opening day of the Irish Championships at the NAC in Abbotstown.
Cooney, one of the squad of four men and six women who will travel to Turkey, won the final comfortably in two minutes 12.02 seconds, still well short of Melanie Nocher’s Irish senior record but a good build-up to Cooney’s favoured events in the 50 and 100 backstroke later in the week.
The 19-year-old Olympian, who also helped her ESB club to victory in the 100 metres freestyle relay, the final race of day one of the four-day meet, dedicated her double gold medal success to her coach, Bill McCarthy, who recently suffered a heart attack.
“Bill’s illness was a shock to all of us and he is still in hospital, but he is looking good and is getting better every day,” said Cooney.
“Bill gives me the motivation and enthusiasm. He means everything, not just to me but to the club as well. I wish him well and, hopefully, he will be back with the club soon.”
Conor Leaney of Larne, another of the Istanbul squad, was a comfortable winner of the 400 metres freestyle.
Leaney (19), who competed for Ireland at the World Championships in Rome in July, clocked 3:54.19 to take gold, and said afterwards he was just swimming through the Irish championships with an eye to faster times in Istanbul.
Leaney and Cooney wore the polyurethane bodysuits that dominated the headlines during the Worlds in Italy, but which will be banned by Fina early next year after a storm of protests since their introduction two years ago.
Leaney and Cooney said after their swims they would be sticking with the bodysuits at the European championships, the last major competition to use the controversial attire before they are outlawed permanently next year
Leander’s 14-year-old Sycerika McMahon showed she remains one for the future when she won the 400 metres freestyle in a Irish junior record of 4:14.90, the only Irish record set on the opening day of competition at the NAC.
