2021 IRISH NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS
- Tuesday, April 20th – Saturday, April 24th
- Prelims at 10:00 am local; Finals at 5:30 pm local
- Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre, Dublin
- Swim Ireland Olympic Selection Policy
- One-shot Olympic qualifying meet
- Meet Package
- Schedule of Events
- Live Results
- Live Stream
- Psych Sheets
21-year-old Finn McGeever crashed through the four-minute barrier in the men’s 400 free final, dropping almost 15 seconds from prelims to win handily at 3:52.83 ahead of 17-year-old Liam Custer (3:59.40).
Though that’s still well off of the Olympic consideration cut of 3:46.78, McGeever’s swim is a lifetime best by over six seconds, and it establishes a new Irish record. He takes out the old mark of 3:53.31 done in 2019 by Jack McMillan, who won the 200 free earlier this week.
After Victoria Catterson became the first Irish woman under 56 seconds in the 100 free, breaking Danielle Hill‘s old mark of 56.01 with a 55.44 in the semis, Hill shot back tonight to reclaim the record. Hill won the event in 55.33, as Catterson was just back for second in 55.53. After having no swimmers under 56 in this event ever before, Ireland now has two.
Ellen Walshe, 20, won the 100 fly tonight in a 59.73, rattling her own Irish record of 59.54 but unable to get under the Olympic consideration cut of 57.92. The swim came after the 200 IM semis, where she was 2:18.04 to out-touch 18-year-old Julia Knox (2:18.86). Walshe was a 2:17.02 in prelims, and a 2:12.56 is needed for Olympic consideration.
Calum Bain and Max McCusker again broke 23 seconds to go 1-2 in the 50 free final, Bain at 22.55 and McCusker at 22.95. That’s the fastest swim of the three rounds for McCusker, while Bain went 22.32 in the heats but gained in semis and finals.
OTHER TOP FINISHES
- 16-year-old Cora Rooney, the only entrant in the women’s 200 back, posted a 2:26.63 in the semis tonight. She was a little more than a second quicker in prelims this morning.
- Cadan McCarthy had the best performance in the men’s 200 IM semis, going 2:04.88 to edge out Ethan Hansen (2:04.97). They’ll need to be under two minutes for Olympic consideration, as the cut is 1:59.67.
- Rice University commit Amelia Kane, 18, was the only finisher under 4:30 in her 400 free victory, posting a 4:23.86. In the 200 IM semis, Kane was third behind Walshe and Knox with a 2:20.08.
