Day two of the 2024 Irish National Age Group Championships took place today in a packed University of Limerick Sports Arena, with 23 national titles up for grabs across the day.
This morning, a Trojan team of Tim Kelly, Mateusz Wojciech, Sam Ramke, and Baltazar Allende clocked a combined 4:00.10 to win the Boys 400 Freestyle Relay (13-14yrs) gold. Glenalbyn posted 4:08.78 to pick up silver, while bronze went to Athlone (4:09.06).
There was double gold for Trojan in the relay, as Gracie Mulloy, Abi Brodrick, Sian McCrohan, and Georgia May Agnew went a combined 4:15.66 to bring the Girls 400 Freestyle Relay (13-14yrs) gold back to Trojan. Bangor claimed the national silver in 4:24.29, with the bronze going to Cork club Dolphin (4:25.64). Visitors Brompton claimed a commemorative silver medal.
As the day two morning session concluded, the event moved swiftly into the midday session as the Girls 800 Freestyle competitors headed to the blocks. Sligo swimmer Grace Newell was first home in the 13yrs race in a time of 10:27.86, winning the national gold. Limerick’s Niamh Church was next to touch in 10:39.37 to take the second spot on the podium, while bronze went to Ailbhe Newell (10:43.98) of Galway.
In the 14yrs age group, Aer Lingus landed a one-two as Lucie O’Keefe (9:45.03) and Julia Dziedzic (9:53.80) finished first and second, respectively. Roisin Feerick of Limerick was third home in 10:01.90, picking up the national bronze medal.
Eoghan McQuillan of Lisburn claimed the first gold on offer this evening, clocking 2:37.80 in the 12yrs Boys 200 Backstroke. New Ross’ Oran O’Brien was next to touch the wall in 2:44.88, followed closely by Bradley Walker (Portadown) in 2:45.02.
The 13yrs national gold was staying in Munster, as Dolphin swimmer Lev Lobanets (2:29.05) took another trip to the podium in first position. The silver didn’t have far to travel either, as Anton Nieuwoudt of Limerick clocked 2:29.13 to claim silver. Templeogue’s Dan McBride picked up the national bronze medal in 2:33.93.
Trojan’s Baltazar Allende was back on the podium, this time claiming the 14yrs national gold in 2:12.60. Banbridge swimmer Shea Mathers (2:22.99) was next to touch the wall and win the national silver, while Aer Lingus’ Helge Ho was in third (2:24.74) to pick up bronze.
There was a change of ends as the Girls 50 Freestyle took to the blocks. Chloe Stewart (29.89) of Bangor was the only swimmer to go sub-30 seconds on her way to the 12yrs gold. Drogheda swimmer Jessica Sweeney was next home in second with 30.01, with third going to Hollie Jennings (30.09) of Banbridge.
Trojan completed a clean sweep in the 13yrs race as Sian McCrohan (28.95) touched the wall first, ahead of teammates Lucy Mowlds (29.24) and Kamila Stachera (29.33). In the 14yrs, Lisburn’s Amelia Stone went quickest with 28.13 to claim the national gold. Laois Marlins’ Yifei Li was next home with 28.37, with third going to Trojan’s Georgia May Agnew (28.54).
The Boys 50 Freestyle took to the University of Limerick pool next. Cookstown’s Luka Griffin (28.51) went under the 30-second mark to take top spot on the podium. Portadown’s Bradley Walker claimed second in 30.08, with third going to Aidan Whitaker (30.10) of Glenalbyn.
Dolphin’s Lev Lobanets claimed his second gold of the evening as he thrashed through one length of the pool in 27.44 to win the 13yrs gold. Will Browne (Athlone) was next home in 28.47, with third spot claimed by Malachy Glynn (28.50) of Shark. Brompton’s Nicholas Rodgers was awarded a commemorative medal.
Trojan’s Tim Kelly blazed through the pool to be crowned the 14yrs national champion in 25.16. Keir Donaghy of Mid Ulster won the national silver (25.44), while bronze went to Riley Brown (25.64) of Ballymena.
The atmosphere ramped up as the Girls 100 Butterfly entered the pool to a loud roar. Olivia Falls of Bangor went quickest to win the 12yrs national gold in 1:09.84. Leah Pinschmidt of Glenalbyn was next to stop the clock (1:16.85) to pick up silver, while bronze went to Chloe Stewart (1:17.16) of Bangor.
Rebecca Lavery of Bangor was crowned national champion in the 13yrs category in a time of 1:08.16. Mila Pickett (Ards) was next home, posting a time of 1:10.06, with Eva Butler (Trojan) picking up the national bronze (1:11.65).
Tallaght swimmer Fiona Weng was first home in the 14yrs race, picking up gold in a time of 1:06.81. Cookstown swimmer Eimear O’Neill was next to stop the clock (1:08.81), with Eabha Gaskin (1:10.92) of NAC next home. Grace Yardley (Brompton) was awarded a commemorative medal.
The Boys 100 Butterfly was the penultimate event of the evening with the 12yrs up first. Portadown swimmer Bradley Walker claimed the national gold in 1:11.89. Eoghan McQuillan (Lisburn) picked up silver with 1:13.00, while NAC swimmer George Gaskin was in third (1:15.84). A commemorative medal went to Brompton’s Roman Cazzol.
In the 13yrs, Portadown’s Dara Hynes was first to touch the wall in 1:06.54, winning the national gold. Mendoza Rodriguez (Glenalbyn) picked up silver in 1:09.02, with third going to Ryan Morgan (1:09.04) of Coolmine.
Baltazar Allende of Trojan was the only swimmer to go sub-60 seconds in the 14yrs race, taking top spot on the podium for the second time tonight with 59.77. Following closely behind was Shea Mathers (1:00.85) to win silver, with third and bronze claimed by Tim Kelly (1:01.38) of Trojan.
The Girls 200 IM brought day two of racing to a close. Jessica Sweeney (Drogheda) was crowned national champion in the 12yrs category with 2:44.88. Bangor swimmers Chloe Stewart (2:45.18) and Olivia Falls (2:47.30) claimed the second and third spots on the podium.
In the 13yrs, Rebecca Lavery of Bangor was first home in a time of 2:36.20 to win the national gold. Ella Kanis-Dickson of Portadown went 2:37.24 to pick up silver, with bronze claimed by Mila Pickett (2:37.26) of Ards.
Aer Lingus’ Julia Dziedzic was first to stop the clock (2:30.29) and win the national gold in the 14yrs category. Galway swimmer Neysa Connolly went 2:35.38 to claim second place and silver, while bronze went to Izab Lehany McGoldrick in a time of 2:35.45.
Racing continues tomorrow morning from 8:45.
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