It was a fantastic sporting weekend for Kilmeaden Swimmer Shauna O’Brien as she set a new Irish Senior Record and claimed two national titles at the 2015 Irish Long Course open Swimming Championships.
The meet took place at the National Aquatic Centre Blanchardstown and attracted over 350 swimmers with 51 American Club all Stars, and 8 Danish Senior internationals in attendance.
In the 100m fly semi-Final Shauna knocked three tenths of a second off Bethany Carson 2012 record of 1:00.53 winning in 1:00.21. Previously the record was set by Michelle Smith in 1996.
Speaking after the race She Said ‘ I was delighted with my performance, with 4 American All stars competing, I knew it was going to be tough, I kept up with the American girl Lauren Case, and was fastest at the turn, after that I knew I was not going to be caught ‘.
O’Brien captured the 50m fly National title on the second day of the meet in a time of 27.19 seconds.
Both times are within automatic qualification times for the world University games which are due to take place in Gwanju Korea in July.
On prospects for the year O’Brien said ‘My main focus this year was qualifying for the University Games, I am competing in France and Spain next month which hopefully will set me up for a good performance in Korea’.
Ex-Waterford Crystal Swimmer Shauna trains at the UCD campus and is coached by Atlanta Olympian Earl McCarthy.
