Kilkenny success at the Leinster Short Course Championships
The swimming season is only back a few months after the short summer break, however the Leinster Short Course Championships took place recently in the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin and Kilkenny was well represented.
It was a jam packed gala over two days, with morning heats and evening finals and lots of weary bodies on Sunday evening returning down the M7.
But it was all worth it, as Kilkenny swimmers set new PBs, made finals and brought home an array of medals.
Individual Medley
The individual medley (IM) tests swimmers in all four strokes over three distances: 100m, 200m and 400m.
Leonardo Reis showed his abilities across all strokes by winning silver medals in both the 200 and 400 metres while he also reached the 100m final.
In the 13-15 age group, Kate Maher and Abby Cunningham reached the 100m final with the latter claiming bronze.
BUTTERFLY
In the shortest butterfly race, the 50 metres, both Molly Bollard and Doug Duffy reached their respective 15 and over B finals setting new PBs in the process.
Marcas Bowen reached the A final in the 50 metres.
In the girls’ 100m fly both Molly Bollard and Shelby Newsome flew the flag for Kilkenny in the B final.
FREESTYLE
There were two gold medals in the 1500m for Nessa Godden and Abby Cunningham while Jane O’Connor got bronze in 13-15 YO. Abby went on to match that feat in the 400m free as well.
Dan Rohan won silver in the 800m free where he bettered his previous PB by five seconds.
Rohan showed his good form by also reaching the 200m B Final.
In the 50m sprint, Kate Maher claimed a great silver medal in the A final. Maher later reached the 200 free final plus the 100 B final.
Doug Duffy won bronze in the 100m free as well as reaching the 50m free B final.
BREASTSTROKE
Kilkenny were double handed in the boys 200m Breaststroke A final with Seán Cooke and Brendan Pretorious on the blocks.
The same two boys also reached the 50 breaststroke final where they were also joined by Marcas Bowen.
The Kilkenny girls matched their male counterparts in the 200m when Abby Cunningham reached the A final where she won bronze and Jane O’Connor the B final.
Cunningham also reached the 100m Breaststroke 13-15 YO B final.
BACKSTROKE
Daran Yalnazov reached all three backstroke finals, 50m, 100m and 200m.
Dan Rohan showed his prowess in distance racing by reaching the 200m backstroke final.
On the girls side both Molly Bollard and Nyah Vaughan both reached the 50m backstroke B final.
The Short Course Winter Nationals in mid December are next those who qualify.
For the majority of other swimmers it will be long course racing from January.
Kilkenny team - Abby Cunningham, Nyah Vaughan, Doug Duffy, Marcas Bowen, Kate Maher, Dan Rohan, Daran Yalnazov, Jane O’Connor, Seán Cooke, Brendan Pretorius, Megan Murphy, Ryan Yalnazov, Orlaith Cuddihy, Lucy Maher, Leonardo Reis, Molly Bollard, Nessa Godden, Dylan Burke, Matthew and Sam McAviney, Sam Kealy, Eve Lehane, Chloe Thompson, Laura Kenna, Ella Cleary, Darragh O’Brien, Michael Kononov and Florian Veith.