2024 Irish Age Group Championships Gets Underway in Limerick

The first day of the 2024 Irish National Age Group Championships got underway today in a packed pool at the University of Limerick Sports Arena.

The first medals of the week were up for grabs in the 200 Mixed Medley Relay event with NAC coming home first to win the 12 yrs gold. Iggy Wieteska, Kseniia Zakharchuk, George Gaskin and Charlotte Cayula clocked a combined 2:25.36 on their way to top spot on the podium. Silver went to Lisburn (2:25.36), with bronze going to Portadown (2:26.36).

In the 400 Mixed Medley Relay (13-14 yrs) event, a Trojan quartet of Eavan Ramsay, Baltazar Allende, Tim Kelly and Georgia May Agnew clocked a combined 4:29.88 to claim the national gold. Banbridge came home in 4:40.58 to take the silver, third and bronze went to Aer Lingus (4:46.15). Visitors Brompton claimed a commemorative silver (4:40.39).

In the Boys 1500 Freestyle (13-14 yrs), Anton Nieuwoudt of Limerick stopped the clock first in18:28.06. Dara Hynes (Portadown) came home second (19:00.33) with third going to Logan Wiggins (19:30.32) of Bangor.

The Girls 100 Breaststroke event opened Thursday evening’s proceedings with the 12 yrs on the blocks first with a packed stand cheering them on. Chloe Stewart of Bangor claimed the national gold in a time of 1:26.71, in second place and claiming silver was Ella Moore of Portadown in 1:28.34 while bronze went to Clara Ward (1:28.37) of Aer Lingus. Visitor, Chloe Mahoney (Brompton) was awarded a commemorative gold (1:21.56).

Tallaght swimmer Milena Zorychta was the winner of the 13 yrs age group in a time of 1:19.48. The silver and bronze went to Portadown swimmers Ella Kanis-Dickson (1:19.80) and Orlagh Todd (1:24.53) respectively.

In the 14 yrs, Anna Joyce of Coolmine was first to stop the clock in 1:16.56 to take home the national gold medal. In second place was Grace Eyre (1:16.60) of Bangor, completing the podium was Sundays Well swimmer Virag Szatmari in 1:16.64.

Dan McBride was the first home in the Boys 400 IM 13 yrs age group in a time of 5:18.34 to claim the national gold. Mendoza Rodriguez (Glenalbyn) was next to stop the clock in second with 5:26.70, with bronze going to Lev Lobanets (Dolphin) in 5:29.40.

The 14 yrs national gold went to Helge Ho of Aer Lingus in a time of 5:02.87. Cian Doyle (Lurgan) was next home in 5:04.64 to claim silver, while bronze went to Shea Mathers (5:06.85) of Banbridge.

Next up on the blocks was the finalists for the Girls 200 Freestyle with the 12 yrs up first, Meadhbh Ní Riain of Limerick was first home to claim the gold in her home pool with 2:22.46, cheering her home was older sister and Paralympian, Róisín Ní Riain. Drogheda’s Jessica Sweeney was second on the podium with 2:22.84 while third went to Chloe Stewart (2:24.79) of Bangor.

Rebecca Lavery of Bangor was first to stop the clock in the 13 yrs event in a time of 2:16.21 to claim national honours. Next home was Eva Butler (2:19.47) of Trojan to claim the second spot on the podium while third spot went to Olivia O’Neill (2:20.09) of Templeogue.

Julia Dziedzic of Aer Lingus came home in 2:13.34 to finish first and win the 14 yrs national title. Yifei Li of Laois Marlins was next to touch the wall in 2:13.36 and win silver with bronze going to Victoria Lynch (2:15.95) of ESB.

The Boys 200 Freestyle was next up, Luka Griffin of Cookstown came home first in 2:18.39 to win the 12 yrs national gold. Eoghan McQuillan (2:21.94) of Lisburn was next home to claim silver, while bronze went to Bradley Walker (Portadown) in 2:22.39. Roman Cazzol (Brompton) claimed a commemorative medal in 2:21.97.

Dara Hynes of Portadown was crowned 13 yrs national champion in 2:11.33, silver went to Dolphin’s Lev Lobanets in 2:14.16, bronze was claimed by Anton Nieuwoudt of Limerick in a time of 2:16.44.

Trojan’s Baltazar Allende claimed top spot on the podium in the 14 yrs with 1:58.24. Glenalbyn swimmer Patrick Reyes was next to stop the clock in silver position (2:03.18) with bronze going to Tim Kelly of Trojan in 2:06.24.

As the first evening drew the noise ramped up as the Girls 200 Backstroke headed to the pool. Drogheda swimmer Jessica Sweeney was first home in the 12 yrs race to win the gold medal in a time of 2:42.27. Olivia Falls (Bangor) was next home in 2:44.31 to take second spot on the podium, Celtic Waves swimmer Molly Lynch won bronze (2:46.25).

Rebecca Lavery of Bangor topped the podium in the 13 yrs race in a time of 2:34.53, winning the national gold. Carmen Biss of Swim Belfast was next home in 2:35.83 to pick up silver, third and bronze went to Chloe Martin (2:35.94) of Coolmine.

Julia Dziedzic (Aer Lingus) was the national champion in the 14 yrs with a time of 2:28.49, Eavan Ramsay (Trojan) was next to stop the clock to pick up silver with 2:31.28. Bronze went to Sylvie Marley (2:34.48) of Templeogue.

The Boys 100 Breaststroke was the final event of the evening with the 12 yrs heading to the blocks first. Luka Griffin of Cookstown claimed the 12 yrs gold in a time of 1:21.61, next home was Tallaght swimmer Lucas Li in 1:23.24, bronze went to Aidan Whitaker (Glenalbyn) in 1:28.12.

The penultimate race of the evening was won by Caolan Doran of Limavady, picking up the the 13 yrs national gold medal in 1:19.16. Fionn Walker of Banbridge was next on the podium in 1:20.68 while bronze went to Dan McBride (1:20.68) of Templeogue.

The14 yrs race closed out the evening as Cian Doyle of Lurgan touched the wall first to win gold in 1:13.21. Riley Brown (Ballymena) followed closely behind in 1:14.04 while Evan Houston (Larne) was in third in a time of 1:14.16.

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