Evan Bailey crowns fruitful week with second freestyle swimming gold medal
The New Ross native and National Centre Limerick performer had a best time of 49.15 and was the only swimmer under 50 seconds, with Larne's Thomas Leggett home in 50.78 for silver and National Centre Limerick's Cormac Rynn winning bronze in 50.81.
Bailey had ensured he was the top seed after a personal best swim of 49.17. The 20-year-old finished ahead of three-time Olympian and Irish record holder in the event Shane Ryan.
Ryan clocked 49.49 with his best and Irish record a 48.39 from Olympic trials in 2024.
There was a third-place finish for Emmet Cousins of New Ross in the open 400m individual medley final in 4:43.72, behind Banbridge's Tom Wilkinson who topped the podium in 4:37.41, and Phelim Hanley (Blackrock) in a European Juniors consideration time of 4:39.77.
Cousins had earlier taken silver in the 200m backstroke final in 2:04.80, with Swim Belfast's Brandon Biss winning his first national title in 2:01.16 while bronze went to Bangor's Brydan Byrne in 2:04.81.
Eva Bayley of New Ross collected bronze in the 100m butterfly final in 1:03.89, with Alana Burns-Atkin claiming her second gold medal of the week.
The National Centre Ulster swimmer swam a personal best 1:00.70 to add to the 200m butterfly title she won on Tuesday night. Silver went to National Centre Limerick's Lucy O'Brien in 1:02.49.
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