Nocher misses out on final place

Nocher is emerging as a genuine contender for the Olympics

Melanie Nocher missed out on a place in the 100m backstroke final at the European Championships after placing 15th in Thursday evening's semi-finals. In Thursday morning's heats, the 19-year-old set a new Irish record of 1:03.16 which helped her progress to the semi-finals.

Her time of 1:03.52 was 1.44 seconds off qualification.

Earlier this week Nocher just missed out on a place in the 200m backstroke final in Eindhoven.

In Thursday's 100m backstroke heats, Aisling Cooney had achieved a personal best in improving the Irish record to 1:03.79 before Nocher set her national mark of 1:03.16.

Nocher pulled out of the heats of the 200m individual medley on Thursday to concentrate on the 100m backstroke.

The Belfast woman's continuing improvement suggests that she is a genuine contender to qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Cooney was unlucky not to join Nocher in the semi-finals after finishing 17th overall - .06 of a second off qualification.

Grainne Murphy broke the Irish junior record in the women's 800m freestyle heats when she produced a time of 8:57.88.

It wasn't enough to make the final but it was a fine performance by the Irish swimmer.