Four Irish swimmers got their European Championships campaign underway on the first day of competition at the Velodrome in Berlin, Germany today. Barry Murphy, Nicholas Quinn, Dan Sweeney and Brendan Hyland were all in action prior to competing in their main events later this week.
Murphy, Quinn and Sweeney all swam in heat 2 of the 100m Breaststroke. Quinn was the fastest of the Irish swimmers touching in a new lifetime best of 1:02.11 to finish second, Barry Murphy was just .01 of a second behind him in 1:02.12, a season’s best for the London 2012 Olympian. Dan Sweeney also swam a personal best clocking 1:02.79 and finished in fourth place. Sweeney and Quinn will both get confidence from their performances going into the 200m Breaststroke on Wednesday as they compete at their first senior international long course championship.
Brendan Hyland warmed up for the 200m Butterfly later this week with the 50m Butterfly heats, the 19 year old clocked 25.10 to place 7th in his heat. He returns to the pool tomorrow for the 200m Freestyle heats.
Joining Hyland tomorrow Sycerika McMahon and Fiona Doyle get their campaign off to a start with the 100m Breaststroke. World University Games Silver medallist Doyle and London 2012 Olympian McMahon will both be aiming to make it through from the heats into semi-finals tomorrow evening.
Day 1 Results
Barry Murphy 100m Breaststroke 1:02.12 (29th)
Nicholas Quinn 100m Breaststroke 1:02.11 (28th)
Dan Sweeney 100m Breaststroke 1:02.79 (40th)
Brendan Hyland 50m Butterfly 25.10 (50th)
Tomorrow’s Races:
200m Freestyle Brendan Hyland
100m Breaststroke Fiona Doyle, Sycerika McMahon
