American Katie Drabot, competing at Irish Nationals under the NCSA banner, won two events on the final day to cap off a big week for the young American crew.
Drabot won the 200 IM and 50 free on the final day, beating out Ireland’s top finishers by wide margins in both.
Drabot was 2:14.38 to win the 200 IM, winning by two seconds. Notably, Ireland’s Shani Stallard went 2:17.58 in taking third; that qualified her for the World University Games.
The 17-year-old Drabot also went 25.81 to win the 50 free, leading a 1-2-3-4 of NCSA athletes.
Meanwhile in the men’s 200 breast, Nicholas Quinn picked up the overall win for Ireland, going 2:13.18 and joining Stallard on the World University Games team.
NCSA athletes from the United States had a great final day, winning a number of events. Matthew Hirschberger took the men’s 800 free in 8:02.57 topping Ireland’s top finishes by about 15 seconds. His teammate Joy Field won the girls distance race, going 16:39.70 in the 1500.
Some other NCSA winners: Alex Lebed won the boys 200 IM in 1:03.68, and Olivia Anderson took the 200 breast in 2:32.82. In addition, NCSA teammates swept the 50 backstrokes, with Hannah Whiteley winning the girls (29.23) and John Shebat the boys (26.29).
Shauna O’Brien took the women’s 100 fly for Ireland, though she couldn’t quite match the national record she set during the semifinals. O’Brien was 1:00.56; her record is 1:00.21. Her countryman Brendan Hyland went 54.45 to win the men’s race, ratting his national record, too.
The men’s 50 free went to Ireland’s 100 free champ Curtis Coulter in 23.07.
You can find live results here.
The top finishers in each event are below, courtesy of a press release from Irish Swimming:
Day 4 Results
Women 1500m Freestyle Final: 1st J Field NCSA 16:39.70 2nd K Brent NCSA 16:44.53 3rd G Murphy New Ross 16:47.25
Men 800m Freestyle Final: 1st M Hirschberger NCSA 8:02.57 2nd A Meegan Aer Lingus 8:17.65 3rd B Gibbons Athlone 8:17.79
Women 200m IM Final: 1st K Drabot NCSA 2:14.38 2nd E Pfeifer NCSA 2:16.84 3rd S Stallard UCD 2:17.58
Men 200m IM Final: 1st A Lebed NCSA 2:03.68 2nd J Ress NCSA 2:06.13 3rd B Griffin Aer Lingus 2:06.92
Women 200m Breaststroke Final: 1st O Anderson NCSA 2:32.82 2nd R Scott NCSA 2:34.80 3rd D McNamara Castlebar 2:38.44
Men 200m Breaststroke Final: 1st N Quinn 2:13.18 2nd R Palazzo NCSA 2:18.28 3rd E Browne NCSA 2:18.59
Women 50m Backstroke Final: 1st H Whiteley NCSA 29.23 2nd Z Alvestruz 29.25 3rd I Hayes Sunday’s Well 30.06
Men 50m Backstroke Final: 1st J Shebat NCSA 26.29 2nd B O’Sullivan NAC 26.84 3rd D Prendergast UCD 26.97
Women 100m Butterfly Final: 1st S O’Brien UCD 1:00.56 2nd L Case NCSA 1:00.65 3rd C McTaggart NCSA 1:01.20
Men 100m Butterfly Final: 1st B Hyland Tallaght 54.45 2nd Z Harting NCSA 55.31 3rd J Burkett NCSA 55.40
Women 50m Freestyle Final: 1st K Drabot NCSA 25.81 2nd C Fanz NCSA 25.98 3rd C McTaggart NCSA 26.01 5th B Firth Ards 26.30
Men 50m Freestyle Final: 1st C Coulter Ards 23.07 2nd J Williams Jones NCSA 23.23 3rd C Munn Ards 23.43
No real big performances in terms of times at this meet for the American teens but logical considering the period. Still a good first international experience for most of them.
MVP boy: Matthew Hirschberger. Won the 1500 free in 15.29.08, the 400 free in 3.55.50 and the 800 free in 8.02.57 and was 3rd in the 200 free in 1.52.64.
MVP girl: Katie Drabot. Won the 200 free in 2.00.07, the 100 free in 55.52, the 200 IM in 2.14.38 and the 50 free in 25.81 and was 11th in the 400 free in 4.18.20.