Duncan Scott Pips Jack McMillan To 100 Free Title At McCullagh International
Duncan Scott won the 100 free by the slimmest of margins on day one of the McCullagh International in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
Scott had topped prelims in 49.64, 0.20 ahead of University of Stirling teammate Jack McMillan who clocked 49.84 with the pair the only men inside 50secs.
The pair returned to the Bangor Aurora where Scott stopped the clock at 49.47 to pip McMillan by just 0.01 in 49.48 with Evan Bailey of the National Centre Limerick third in 49.71 as 0.24 separated the first three men home.
Lucy Hope made it a Stirling double with victory in the women’s 100 free in 55.74. Grace Davison, the European junior bronze medallist, battled Drew McKenzie for second with the Irish 17-year-old taking silver in 56.53, 0.13 ahead of McKenzie (56.68).
Kara Hanlon: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Kara Hanlon claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke title with the Scottish record holder stopping the clock in 1:07.45, 0.32 ahead of Ellie McCartney of the National Centre Limerick who touched in 1:07.77 with Niamh Coyne more than three seconds back in third in 1:10.83.
Eoin Corby took the men’s race in 1:02.82 ahead of Lewis Fraser (1:03.58) and Jacob Armon (1:04.25).
Two-time Olympian Ellen Walshe enjoyed a winning margin of more than 10 seconds in the 400IM. The 23-year-old came home in 4:43.33, 6.15secs off the Irish record of 4:37.18 she set at the 2024 Sette Colli in Rome, but 10.14secs ahead of Suzie McNair, of Stirling, who clocked 4:53.47. The pair were the only women inside 5mins with Georgina Walker of Drogheda third in 5:04.52.
Jack Cassin headed the men’s 200 fly in 2:00.21 while Catherine Roberts won the women’s race in 2:19.33.
Scott Gibson – sixth at the 2022 Commonwealth Games – dominated the men’s 50 back in 25.75 with Rebecca Sutton taking the women’s title in 29.15.
Luke Hornsey was a clear winner of the 800 free in 8:08.75 while Aoife Harkin headed the women’s 1500 in 17:49.01.
