Disappointment for local swimmers in National Trials tonight
By Stephen Leonard
THERE was disappointment this evening for local swimmers Niamh Coyne, Brendan Hyland and Ellen Walshe in their pursuit of Olympic qualification at the Swim Ireland Irish National Team Trials at the National Aquatic Centre.
While Coyne’s time of 1:09.08 saw her home in second place behind Mona McSharry in the 100m Breaststroke, it was short of the 1:07.07 she needed to make the cut for Tokyo.
Niamh Coyne came in second in the 100m Breaststroke
Speaking to RTE after her race, Coyne said: “I tried to go out a bit faster today and pick up my stroke rate a bit more, but I just kind of messed it up on the way home.
“But I’ll look back on the video again, learn from that and move on. Hopefully the next one’s better,” she added.
Brendan Hyland was hoping to clock a time of 1:56.48 that would have earned him Olympic qualification
Fellow National Centre and Tallaght Swim Club competitor, Brendan Hyland was next up in the 200m Butterfly hoping to clock a time of 1:56.48 that would have earned him Olympic qualification.
And it looked to be on for the Knocklyon man as he carded a split time of 55.20, but fatigue appeared to set in on the homestretch and he consequently finished in 1:59.96 behind winner Paddy Johnston in 1:58.81.
Speaking after his race Hyland said: “I’m pretty shocked, I’m not going to lie. I’m better than that.
“I just came off the last wall and I was absolutely zapped. I don’t know, I’ve done it about 20 times quicker than that.
“But I’ll have to be objective about it, look at what I’m doing wrong. Fair play to Paddy. It was a great swim.
“I’ve a couple of events left in the week and I guess the 100 Fly is more important than it was now.”
Ellen Walshe did not reach her target time that would have seen her earn a berth on the Olympic squad
Templeogue Swim Club’s Irish 100m Butterfly record breaker Ellen Walshe was in action minutes later, but her bid for the 57.92 time that would have seen her earn a berth on the Olympic squad fell short.
While she comfortably beat Amy Sheridan, she could only manage a time of 1:00.12, slower than the 1:00.08 she recorded in this morning’s heats.
“It just wasn’t there. I didn’t feel as ready as I was this morning,” said Walshe.
“I don’t know where I went wrong. Maybe I wasn’t out fast enough, but I definitely didn’t land the turn. It just wasn’t there from the start I don’t think.
“It’s disappointing, but I’ll move forward from it” she insisted.
