The Irish Summer National Age Group Championships continued on Day Three at the UL Arena, showcasing a diverse range of swimming talent. The day's events were a testament to the dedication and skill of the young athletes, with numerous national titles and championship medals up for grabs. The competition was fierce, with swimmers delivering outstanding performances across various events.
One of the standout moments of the day was the Male & Open 12yrs 200m Freestyle Relay, where Aer Lingus claimed gold with a time of 2:03.23, just eight hundredths of a second ahead of Ards. Trojan secured the bronze medal in 2:09.31. The Female 12yrs 200m Freestyle Relay saw Trojan take the national title in 2:06.17, with Dolphin in second and Glenalbyn in third.
The Male & Open 13/14yrs 400m Freestyle Relay was another thrilling contest, with Lurgan edging out Coolmine by 0.09 seconds to claim gold. Coolmine took silver, and Trojan secured bronze. In the Female 13/14yrs 400m Freestyle Relay, Bangor dominated with a time of 4:11.18, followed by Galway in second and Aer Lingus in third.
The Female 800m Freestyle events showcased the endurance and skill of the swimmers. Vanessa Hamilton of Bangor won gold in the 13yrs race, followed by Tara Finnegan of Curragh in second and Annie Francis of Swim Belfast in third. The 14yrs title went to Chloe Stewart of Bangor, with Meadhbh Ní Riain of Limerick in second and Lucy Lee O’Donnell of Waterford Crystal in third.
The Female 12-14yrs 50m Breaststroke saw Sofiia Kostanetska of Cookstown triumph in 35.53, with Jessica Sweeney and Sophia Winterbach of Drogheda in second and third respectively. The Male & Open 200m Backstroke events were dominated by Zayn Finnegan of Curragh, Kristian Jakobsen of Blackrock, and Cody Murray of Ards.
The Female 100m Butterfly races produced some of the closest finishes of the session. Amelia Cray of Tallaght won gold in the 12yrs event, followed by Alana McEvoy of Swilly Seals in second and Clara Pinschmidt of Glenalbyn in third. The 13yrs race was decided by just four hundredths of a second, with Philippa Costello of Dolphin touching first, Esme Falls of Bangor in second, and Una Casey of Blackrock in third.
The Male & Open 12-14yrs 50m Freestyle saw Luka Griffin of Cookstown storm to gold in 25.92, with Callum Brown of Banbridge in second and Victor Virlan of Drogheda in third. The Male & Open 100m Butterfly event was highly competitive, with Zayn Finnegan of Curragh claiming the national title, Cody Murray of Ards in second, and Oliver McEvoy of Aer Lingus in third.
The Female 200m Individual Medley event brought the day's competition to a close, with Alana McEvoy of Swilly Seals claiming gold in 2:45.75, Bella Hill of Bangor in second, and Lily Ha of Dolphin in third. The 13yrs and 14yrs races produced thrilling finishes, with Una Casey of Blackrock and Olivia Falls of Bangor claiming gold respectively.
This championship day showcased the talent and determination of Irish swimmers, with numerous personal bests and national titles up for grabs. The UL Arena buzzed with excitement as the young athletes pushed themselves to their limits, leaving a lasting impression on the spectators and coaches alike.
