In the final of the 200m Individual medley at the Para Swimming World Series in Sheffield Ireland’s Ellen Keane and Nicole Turner finished 10th and 11th respectively. These World Series races are being run as multi, or mixed class so athletes from different classes are racing in the same heats, and finals. The winners are determined based on a points system meaning Keane was actually the top finisher in her class; SM9, in this evening’s final.
The winner on the night (on points) was SM13 Paralympic and World Champion Rebecca Meyers.
Fourteen-year old Nicole Turner was the third SM6 finisher behind British duo Maisie Summers-Newton and Rio medalist Ellie Robinson.
With over 300 swimmers in action this weekend competition for places in the finals is fierce. For example, 88 swimmers raced in the women’s 50m Freestyle heats with only the top twenty advancing to this evening’s finals. Turner in fact placed 19th overall in those heats but forfeited her final berth tonight to concentrate on the favoured 200m IM final.
Almost 120 contested the heats of the men’s 50m Free for again just twenty places in the finals. Both Irish male swimmers; McClements and Flanagan were pleased with their morning swims in this event today but were outside the reckoning for the finals.
At the midway point in this gala Irish team manager Hayley Burke is pleased with how the team are faring: “All the guys are in heavy training at the moment so I’m pleased with how they are performing considering that. This meet, at this point in the season, is a good time to try out some new things we’re working on as we look to later in the season. We’re looking forward to another couple of days of racing and top class competition here in Sheffield.”
All the action over the weekend can be watched live on www.paralympics.ie/competitions
Day 2, RESULTS
Ellen Keane, 50m Freestyle, 33:29sec, did not progress
200m Individual Medley, 2:41.18, 10th overall in final
Nicole Turner, 50m Freestyle, 19th overall, through to final (later withdrew).
200m Individual Medley, 3;17.56, 11th overall in final
Patrick Flanagan, 50m Freestyle, 40.23sec, did not progress
Barry McClements, 50m Freestyle, 29.17sec, did not progress
200m Individual Medley, 2:34.25, did not progress
