Cooney's making big waves
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Aisling Cooney sent out a clear warning to Melanie Nocher when she clocked a
new Irish senior record for the 100m backstroke at the Irish long course
championships in the National Aquatic Centre last night.
Cooney qualified fastest for today's 100m back final when she broke her own
Irish best of 1:02.86, clocking 1:02.64.
The 17-year-old had only set the previous mark at the end of March and her
rivalry with Nocher is clearly living up to all expectations in Dublin with
the 200m and 50m back still to come.
Now Nocher and Cooney both know that in the 100m back they are a second away
from hitting the FINA 'A' time for Beijing.
Recently retired Irish record holder Julie Douglas certainly holds the young
Dubliner in high esteem.
Douglas said: "She's clearly a real talent and a great girl as well.
What I like most about her is her determination and willingness to learn.
"She has the desire and the hunger to do very well and I hope she
keeps progressing the way she is because she can go right to the top.
"In swimming you need the talent but you need the right attitude as
well and she has it."
Another rising star is teenager Grainne Murphy, who is heading to the
European junior championships in the summer.
Yesterday Murphy clocked a new Irish junior record in the 200m individual
medley, striking gold in 2:21.45.
Murphy came in ahead of Lisburn's Bethany Carson who clocked 2:23.15, while
Niamh O'Sullivan took bronze in 2:23.81.
Larne's Conor Leaney set a new Irish junior record of 23.68 for the 50m
free, taking silver behind Botond Solymossy of Westwood, 23.37.
In the men's 200m IM Niall Wynn of St Paul's, Dublin also set a new Irish
junior record with 2:08.73 ahead of Tommy Bergin from Killkenny, 2:10.38.
City of Derry's Ryan Harrison claimed the 400m free gold with 4:04.83, while
Ards struck gold in the 4x100m medley.
Luke Campbell, Michael Dawson, Craig McIntyre and Steven McQuillan came home
in 4:04.15 ahead of Westwood in 4:06.11.
The women's 200m fly went to Lorna Cummings of Sunday's Well in 2:17.30
ahead of Laura McDonnell of Cormorant.
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