Drogheda Swim Club had a very successful visit to the National Aquatic Centre (NAC) on Sunday for the second Long Course (50m pool) meet of the season.
The highlight for Drogheda was a fantastic Summer National Division 1 qualifying time in the 200m Breaststroke for Dan Cojocaru (3.10.46), in a race he won against many much older swimmers.
Altogether the Drogheda club had 27 swimmers in action in 74 swims and between them they returned with 47 new Personal Bests, along with trips to Limerick for the National Division 2 Championships secured by Daniel McArdle (29.42), Titas Bisikirskas (30.55) and Aoidhri McGroddy (30.59) in the 50m Freestyle. Dylan Brady added another event for Limerick to his ever growing list when achieving the Qualifying Time in the 100m Breaststroke (1.34.93).
Featuring on the podium, were gold and bronze places for Dan Cojocaru (200m Breast, 50m Breast), silver for Emma Marriage (200m Back and 100m Fly) along with bronze in the 100m Back and 4th place finishes for Caoimhe Doyle (400m Free), Sadhbh Pentony (200m Breast), Orlaith Crowley (50m Breast) and Dylan Brady (400m Free and 100m Breast).
Zuzanna Kowalska made her competitive debut for the club and swam well in the 50m Free (36.22) and 50m Back (41.78) while there great swims from Tiegen Lennon in all her events, which included a massive 12 second PB in the 50m Fly (44.50).
Samara Black Dunne set a big new best time in the 100m Backstroke (1.34.57) while training partner Amy Brennan scored 4 PBs from 4 swims with the pick being a 20 second best in the 200m Freestyle (2.56.77).
New members Maria Kozak and Dawid Wajgelt gained great long course experience with fast swims in the 50m and 100m Breaststroke events as did our youngest competitor, Jessica Sweeney in the 50m Free and Backstroke.
Niamh McDowall-Connolly and Chloe Lennon continue their climb back to full fitness with some strong swims while Niall Golden was the busiest swimmer of the day taking in six events with three PBs in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke.
Freestyle specialist Eoin Lumsden struck for a new PB over 100m (1.11.26) while breaststroker Eleanor Bolger scored good PBs in the 200m IM (2.56.13) and 50m Freestyle (32.11). Ellie’s National CSP Squad training partner Bronagh Harmon struck for new bests in the 100m Freestyle (1.11.90) and 50m Butterfly (39.39).
Augustus Terebeiza switched from his favourite backstroke to freestyle but kept his usual smooth style to finish in a massive best time of 1.12.02 while Anna Harvey continued her good form from the recent Schools competition with great swims in both the 100m Free (1.16.04) and 50m Breaststroke (44.89).
Aidan Martin managed four from four bests with the pick of his swims coming in the 200m Breaststroke (3.29.16), a 17 second improvement while Alex Woods made a dramatic entry into the club records with the fastest swim of the day in the 50m dash (29.11).
With a five week break now until the next long course competition, all of the groups will be stepping up the intensity in training to top these performances once again!
