Sycerika McMahon dominates three events on first day: 2011 Irish Long Course Championships
16-year-old Sycerika McMahon dominates her way in three events on the first day of 2011 Irish Long Course National Championships at National Aquatic Centre in Abbotstown on April 28.
McMahon earned two gold medals in the Women’s 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly and qualified as the fastest swimmer into the finals of Women’s 50m breast-stroke.
McMahon, who qualified as the fastest swimmer in the preliminary rounds of 50m breast-stroke, sustained her fastest spot in the semi-finals. Her timing in the second round was comparatively slower than her sprint in the preliminary rounds, as she clocked
33.53 seconds in the semi-finals as compared to her 33.23 seconds in the heats. She was followed by India McGlynn, who also posted a comparatively sluggish swim of 35.12 seconds to qualify as the second fastest swimmer. TEMP’s Niamh Bryson followed them into
the finals, clocking an improved time of 35.32 seconds that was 0.65 seconds better than her preliminary rounds’ effort.
Moments later, the arena witnessed McMahon’s dazzling swim of 2:00.79 minutes to reach the top of podium. McMahon improved her timing by almost three seconds to earn her first gold medal of the championship. ARDS’s Melanie Nocher and UCD’s Niamh O Sullivan
followed her on the podium for silver and bronze medal, clocking a time of 2:01.35 and 2:03.52 minutes respectively. Nevertheless, McMahon’s time was only 0.86 seconds slower than the Irish benchmark of 1:59.93 minutes, set by KH’s Michelle Smith in August
20, 1997.
In her third event, Women’s 200m butterfly, LEA’s McMahon improved her timing by nearly two seconds and clocked an astounding 2:15.82 minutes to earn the gold medal. SWSC’s Lorna Cummins only managed to improve her timing by 0.01 seconds but still earned
the silver medal, clocking a time of 2:17.75 minutes. ESB-IRL’s Gillian Gavaghan climbed the podium for bronze medal by touching the wall in nearly three seconds improved time of 2:23.25 minutes.
Gavaghan faced a tough competition from her following swimmers, India McGlynn and Clodagh Flood, who touched the wall in a time of 2:24.24 and 2:25.38 minutes for fourth and fifth spot in the event, respectively.
McMahon was very delighted after her consecutive victory in first three events. With her gruelling efforts, she has become the centre of attention of media and swimming fans. Her promising performances have aroused hope of the Irish Swimming for a wonderful
finish at the upcoming 2011 World Championships in Shanghai.
McMahon expressed happiness after two gold titles on the first day of the championship and said that she will try her level best to raise the flag of her country at the upcoming world stages.
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