Daniel Wiffin's exploits inspiring new wave of Cork swimmers in endurance events

THE 'Wiffen effect' has seen a surge in the number of swimmers choosing to swim the longer distance events, 800m & 1,500m freestyle. 

This phenomenon reflects a shifting change to endurance events, influenced by the incredible success of Irish swimmer, Daniel Wiffen.

The volume of entries at the recent Aspiring Champions meet, for the distance events, meant that they could not be facilitated in the planned two day meet and necessitated moving the distance events to a third day.

Jess Merrigan (13), Dolphin posted 11:50.11 at 800m freestyle to claim gold. Ruby Morrison, SWSC placed 4th overall, but her time of 12:36.35 was a 7 second PB on her previous attempt at the distance. Rasmus Jakobsen, Blackrock was the victor in the 13 year old boys age group, posting an impressive 10:55.72.

Dolphin teammates, Aoibhe Moroney 10:10.27, and Elin Manson 10:32.30 placed 2nd and third respectively in the 15 year old 800m freestyle. Elin’s time was a 15 second PB. Billy Anglim touched first with 9:49.34 to claim the 15 year old 800m freestyle.

Naoise Forde (16) placed 2nd with 11:18.03 while Gustav Dancsa, Mallow placed 3rd with 10:21.06 in the boys 16 year old 800m freestyle. Alex Barrett, Blackrock claimed the 17 & over 800m with 9:24.25. Daisy O’Toole, Mallow placed 4th on 10:27.76 while Izzy McGrath, SWSC had a 10 second PB to place 5th overall.

Sonny Barrett (13) placed 2nd at 1,500m freestyle 20:53.09. His clubmate Garvan Gillard (14) swam an impressive 47.24 second PB to win the 14 year old 1,500m on 19:31.23. Ciaran Doyle posted 20:24.49 to place 2nd in the 15 year old age group. Clubmate Lluna Pisa Giner posted 22:37.61 to place 3rd in the 16 year old 1,500m freestyle with Emerson Mutch, SWSC, (16) 2nd with 22:42.79.

There was an all-Cork podium in the girls 17&Over 1,500m freestyle with Fiorna O’Keeffe, Mallow, in pole with 19:41.85. Maeve Gallagher, SWSC 2nd on 19:53.45 and Gemma Whelan, Dolphin, recently returned from the World Deaf Games, in third with 20:50.70. In the boys 17&Over age group, Adam Spillane claimed victory on 18:25.87 ahead of Evan Buckley, Mallow in 2nd with 18:53.40.

There was a complete change of pace in the afternoon session with a range of 50m sprint events on offer. Lev Lobanets (13), Dolphin was the top Cork performer again with four victories from four events. He posted 28.20 to claim 50m freestyle. 33.69 yielded victory at 50m backstroke ahead of Rasmus Jakobsen, Blackrock in 3rd with 39.01. He touched on 40.75 for victory at 50m breaststroke and he topped an all Cork podium at 50m butterfly when he touched on 31.18. Blackrock duo Sonny Barrett, 35.94 and Rasmus Jakobsen 37.69 completed the podium.

Billy Anglim added two sprint golds to his 800m. These came at 50m freestyle 28.46 and 50m butterfly 30.77. Jess Merrigan found herself in a head on battle at 50m freestyle but held on to claim 2nd by the narrowest of margins 34.22 ahead of Alison Kerrisk, Mallow in 3rd with 34.24. Merrigan added gold at 50m breaststroke 43.90 ahead of Saoirse Flynn, SWSC in 3rd 47.70. Flynn was 2nd at 50m butterfly 30.87 and added a second bronze at 50m backstroke 43.89.

Virag Szatmari (16) SWSC won double gold at 50m freestyle 31.81 and 50m breaststroke. She was joined on the 50m breast podium by her clubmates Beatriz Carvalho 44.42 and Cara O’Farrell in 3rd with 44.60. O’Farrell topped the 50m backstroke 35.87 with Carvalho adding a second silver with 38.24. Camellia Entcheva (16) SWSC was the gold medallist at 50m freestyle 30.71. She added a second gold at 50m butterfly 36.47 and had to settle for silver at 50m breaststroke 45.14.

Daniel Bourke (14), Dolphin was the victor at 50m breaststroke 39.73 and placed 3rd at 50m butterfly 36.66 behind Killian McCarthy, SWSC in 2nd 32.90. McCarthy got his chance to shine when he claimed gold at 50m backstroke 34.16.

Daisy O’Toole (17), Mallow, won 50m backstroke 33.86 and was third at 50m freestyle 30.19. Alex Barrett (17), Blackrock topped an all Cork podium at 50m freestyle with all three swimming times sub 26 seconds. Barrett on 25.49, Sasha Lychuk, Dolphin 25.94 and Balint Szatmari, SWSC in third with 25.96.