SWIMMING: Cooney sets national record

AISLING COONEY and Melanie Nocher narrowly missed World Championship qualification at the Irish Long Course finals at the NAC yesterday.

Cooney set a national record 1:01.76 in the 100m backstroke from Nocher in second (1:02.39) and the pair hope to book their place in the worlds in the 200m backstroke today. Niall Wynn set an Irish record in the 400m IM final, (4:27.96) and qualifies for the World University Games in China while Sycerika McMahon led the women’s field in 5:51.56. In the men’s 800m freestyle, Conor Donnelly (8:26.54) from Leander took gold. Niamh O’Sullivan (UCD) won the women’s (8:54.67).

The competition continues until tomorrow evening.