The penultimate morning of Swim Ireland's Irish Open Championships and Olympic Trials saw Danielle Hill blaze through the NAC pool to cement her status as Ireland’s fastest ever woman while Shane Ryan and Evan Bailey set new standards in the 100m freestyle.
Larne swimmer Hill stopped the clock on 24.95, dipping under the 25-second mark for the first time and setting a new Irish and Championship Record. Hill’s previous best was 25.15 set in 2022. The 24-year-old, who earlier in the week reserved her seat on the plane to Paris, will target the 50 free Olympic qualification time of 24.70 later this evening.
Shane Ryan brought down his 2018 100m freestyle Irish senior record (48.68), swimming an impressive 48.55 in this morning’s heat, a time that also broke his Championship Record set in 2018. The National Centre (Dublin) swimmer secured top seed for the A Final later in a European Championships Consideration Time and now has his sights set on the OQT of 48.34.
In the same event, rising star Evan Bailey set his fourth Irish Junior Record of the week. The New Ross swimmer clocked 49.40, breaking Gerry Quinn’s 2016 record of 50.00, to advance to the A Final second fastest. Bailey, who already secured European consideration times in the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly, added the 100m freestyle to the list.
Nathan Wiffen was fastest out of the 1500 freestyle Heat, the Loughborough swimmer looked comfortable as he glided through the NAC pool in a time of 16:35.80. Wiffen heads into tomorrow evenings final as fastest qualifier with his sights set on the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) of 15:00.99.
Amelia Kane, fresh off the back of winning the 400m freestyle national gold medal last night, came home fastest in the 800m freestyle Heats with 9:14.72. Holly McInerney (Templeogue) was second fastest with 9:20.18, both will go head-to-head for the national gold in tomorrow’s final.
Just five tenths of a second separated National Centre Limerick’s Ellie McCartney (2:32.48) and National Centre Dublin’s Niamh Coyne (2:32.94) in this morning’s 200m breaststroke heat, both returning to the blocks later this evening with ambitions to advance to tomorrow’s Super Final.
Reigning 200m Breaststroke National Champion Darragh Greene secured top seed with 2:12.36, with Jack Kelly (ESB) second fastest qualifier with 2:13.86, achieving the consideration time for the European Aquatics Championships. Greene’s National Centre (Dublin) teammate Eoin Corby was third quickest (2:14.35).
In the 200m freestyle Ards’ Grace Davison, swimming in heat one, advanced through the heats quickest in 2:02.73. Davison will look to continue her impressive week as she returns to the blocks later this evening for the A Final. Irish record-holder in the event, Victoria Catterson, was second fastest in 2:03.70.
The men’s 200m butterfly brought the morning session to a close as Jack Cassin secured top seed in 2:02.04.
Tonight will see John Shortt (200m backstroke) and Ellen Walshe (100m butterfly) return for Super Finals in their respective events. Other Super Finals this evening includes the Women’s 200m backstroke and Men’s 200m individual medley. Competition continues from 5pm.
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