From Castlebar - County Mayo -
Swimming Club News
By Linda McCaffrey
12, Feb 2004 - 23:07
Once again St. Gerald’s relay team of Colm Garrick, Jimmy Wiseman, Michael Walls and Darragh Quinn claimed 2 silver medals at the Irish Schools Senior Championships held in Cranny Pool, Leisureland, Galway in 6th/7th February.This is no mean achievement considering they were the only Connacht team to reach the finals and were pipped by Irish record holders Belvedere College. In the freestyle relay the boys were touched out of gold in a dramatic finish in a time of 1 43 65 and followed this up with a second silver in the 4x50 medley relay in what was another very exciting event.
The individual highlight of the weekend was Laura English’s 100m Breaststroke swim. Laura swimming for St. Joseph’s steamed ahead in her heat to take her place in the final where she came in 3rd and claimed a well earned bronze medal, she also swam the 200 I.M event and finished in 6th place.
Other swimmers to make Finals included –
Colm Garrick, St. Gerald’s qualified for 100m Backstroke final and finished 6th fastest in a time of 1. 04 08. Colm also swam 100m Breaststroke where his ranking was 10th overall.
Darragh Quinn, St. Gerald’s made the final in 100m Breaststroke and finished 6th fastest and continued his winning way in the 200 I.M to finish in a personal best time of 2 19 66.
Laura Keaveney swimming for Sacred Heart, Westport reached the final in 100m Fly to take 5th place in a time of 1 10 35 and also produced a personal best time in 200m I.M to finish 11th overall and made a nationals qualifying time.
Day 1 of the championships saw John Whyte, St. Joseph’s, Foxford swim in 15/16 yr 100m Backstroke and finish in a time of 1 11 27. Next to line up was Brian Moran, Gortnor Abbey in the senior Boys 100m Backstroke where he produced another fine swim.
Swimming for Balla was Aisling Bourke in the 12/14 yr 100m Breaststroke where she had a great swim to finish in a personal best time of 1 23 26. Aisling went on to swim her 200m I.M. in a time of 2 40 49 taking 11th place overall and achieving a Nationals qualifying time. Natalie Bourke also swimming for Balla did her school proud by finishing her 200m I.M. swim in a personal best time and produced another good swim in her 100m Fly.
Sarah Caulfield swimming for St. Patrick’s Academy made reserve finalist in 15/16 yr 100m Breaststroke to finish in a time of 1 21 25. Sarah also swam the 200m I.M. and achieved a nationals qualifying time in this event.
Katie Tuohy, represented St. Joseph’s in the 200m I.M. event where she made a personal best time and was heard saying (I’m so happy).
Day 2 saw Fionnuala Quinn St. Joseph’s swim in the junior 100m Fly where she had a strong swim and produced a personal best time of 1 21 66. Elenor Grier- Gavin St. Joseph’s also had a fine swim in 15/16 100m Fly as did Sarah Wiseman also doing her school proud in the 15/16 100m Fly event
Jimmy Wiseman as well as his success on the relay team had a good weekend in his individual events which included 100m Fly and 100m Breaststroke. Patrick Wiseman also represented St. Gerald’s in the 200m I.M. event where he finished in a personal best time. Michael Walls produced another fine time in the senior 100m Fly individual event and together with his relay success this rounded of a very good weekend for him.
Representing Rice College, Westport was Conal Joyce who is just back from an injury and managed to hold his place in 200m I.M. and had a great swim in the 100m Fly event.
Elaine Joyce representing Sacred Heart, Westport for the first time in the 15-16 100m Fly swam well and did her school proud. Another representative for Sacred Heart was Zoe Davis who produced a fine 100mFly swim to finish in a time of 1 18 80
The training and dedication of these swimmers paid off over the weekend and it’s congratulations to one and all. Thank you to coaches, Sebastian, Marian and Joe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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