| Ireland's 50m Freestyle Irish Record was twice broken today on opposite sides of the world as Danielle Hill first and then Mona McSharry took hundredths of a second each from McSharry’s February standard of 25.60. Hill was swimming in the 50m Freestyle Final at the Commonwealth Games and touched in 25.56 for a record that lasted just 8 hours, McSharry winning the Final in Dublin in 25.54. The Marlins swimmer, who collected her fourth gold of the week commented ‘I was really happy to get that record in February so to be able to maintain it is fantastic. It’s been a good week and I’m looking forward to getting ready for the summer internationals now’.
There was further success for Irish athletes at Commonwealth Games as both Conor Ferguson and Jordan Sloan made it through to semi-finals this morning. Ferguson, swimming in the 50m Backstroke progressed from his semi-final in fifth place to his second final of the week after a 25.60 second swim, while Jordan Sloan reached the 100m Freestyle semi-final in 49.72 and went on to finish 15th overall in 49.88.
Back in Dublin, Shane Ryan was under European Championships consideration time for the second time this week, in his favoured 100m Backstroke this time. Ryan was just one tenth of a second off his Irish Record winning gold in a time of 53.93. Also impressive in that event National Centre Dublin (NCD) and Ennis swimmer Rory McEvoy claimed silver in a best time of 54.66.
Maria Godden secured European Junior Championship and World Youth Olympic Games consideration times in the 100m Backstroke and 200m Freestyle this morning. The Kilkenny swimmer concentrated on the 100m Backstroke for the finals winning her second Backstroke gold of the week in 1:03.15. Silver and bronze medallists in the event Rebecca Reid (1:03.98) and Ellen Cassidy (1:04.24) were also under European Juniors consideration time.
16-year-old Victoria Catterson of Ards secured her consideration time for the European Junior Championships in 2:04.13 and took her first Irish Title in the 200m Freestyle. The National Club Swimming Association’s (NCSA) Claire Tuggle, a rising US star, was first home in the event in 1:59.11 for commemorative gold, she was the only swimmer under the 2-minute mark. Alfie Kelly of Dolphin Swimming Club in Cork also went under the European Juniors time to win the 1500m Freestyle Final. Kelly clocked 16:01.75 ahead of Daniel Wiffen (16:25.78) and Denis Kilbride (16:45.75)
National Centre Dublin and Trojan swimmer Ben Griffin was the clear winner in the 200m Individual Medley with a best time of 2:03.10.
Aer Lingus set the first relay record of the week when Jordan Byrne, Alex Murphy, Lucy Thornton and Aisling Haughey combined for a time of 4:03.63. A new Olympic event for 2020, 2018 is the first time the 400m Mixed Medley Relay has been included in the National Championships.
Competition in Dublin continues tomorrow and in Gold Coast through to Tuesday.
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