Club youngsters among medals at London Championships

Hackney Aquatics swimmers combined for more medals and a host of personal bests at the London Regional Championships.

A squad of 12 competed in the event, for 11 to 14-year-olds, and built on the club’s success from the Youth Championships to come away with four medals from 18 final outings.

Kai Ogden, 14, returned from a broken wrist to win silver in the 200m backstroke in a new best of 2.21.6, which ranks him in the UK’s top 20, at the London Aquatic Centre.

And he also set new bests in the 400m medley, 200m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, despite only being back in full training for four weeks.

Ryan McCoy, 14, also picked up a silver medal in his 200m butterfly in a new best of 2.20.1 and added bronze in the tight 100m butterfly final in a best of 1.01.9, with both swims ranking him inside the UK top 10.

McCoy recorded personal bests in the 200m and 50m backstroke finals and went close to another in the 100m freestyle.

Jude Costley, 14, claimed the fourth medal for Hackney at Crystal Palace, claiming silver in a three-second personal best in the 100m backstroke, clocking 1.04.7 to rank in the UK’s top 20.

Costley made the 50m backstroke final, but just missed out on another podium in fourth place in 30.4, finishing three-hundredths of a second behind the silver medalist, and was a 200m backstroke finalist.

Ilyas Ahmed made the 100m and 200m butterfly finals, while fellow championship debutant Tahlia Deaner made the 200m backstroke final.

Kevin Agudelo Lopez made the 200m butterfly final and Mika Ogden was one of the only 11-year-olds to make a final in the 50m butterfly.

First-timers Ley Ito, Margot Celestine and Thomas Archer set personal bests at the event and anyone wanting more information about the club’s squads, Masters or new Learn to Swim Academy can visit hackneyaquaticsclub.org or email membership@hackneyaquaticsclub.org.