Hyland breaks new ground in Glasgow
BRENDAN Hyland will be very much encouraged by his performances at last weekend’s European Short Course Championships in Glasgow as he prepares to turn his attention to next April’s National Champ-ionships and Olympic qualifiers in the NAC.
The Tallaght Swim Club and National Centre competitor made it to his first major international final after qualifying from the heats of the 200m Butterfly in a time of in 1:53.79.
“It was nice to do it” said Hyland. “When I was in the semi finals I felt this was the real deal and so I had put myself in that bracket anyway.
“But I had never done it [reach a major international final] before and it was great experience because it’s another level up. These guys are quick.”
Looking ahead to the new year, Hyland said “Last Christmas I was delighted coming out of the World Short Course Champion-ships. I took some time out and it wasn’t until February that I was really back in the full swing.
“Right now I just want to keep going so I won’t be taking that much of a break.
“All the focus now is on the big one in April. We have the Olympic qualifiers in the National Aquatics Centre and I have to get that time.”
At the European Short Course Championships, Hyland also turned in a great display in the 400m Individual Medley, with his time of 4:12.13 shattering Andrew Bree’s 2001 record by more than four seconds.
What’s more he also carded a lifetime best of 1:58.12 in the 200m IM for what was a strong all-round performance.
Niamh Coyne impressed on her first outing in a senior international semi-final, swimming next to Mona McSharry, she finished in 14th place overall in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke having set a new personal best of 1:06.12 in the heats.
Coyne, who also carded personal bests in the 50m and 200m Breaststroke, was part of the Women’s 4x50m Medley Relay team that set a new Irish record.
Indeed she teamed up with Danielle Hill, Mona McSharry and Maria Godden to shave more than four seconds off the 2003 record of 1:53.95 for tenth place overall.
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