Shortt and McCartney Progress to European Finals in Belgrade

Ireland’s John Shortt and Ellie McCartney have both come through this evening’s semi-finals to advance to finals at the LEN European Junior Swimming Championships in Belgrade, Serbia.

National Centre Limerick’s John Shortt has had an impressive day, setting a new Irish Senior and Junior Record in this morning’s heats of the 200m Backstroke. Shortt was the top ranked swimmer going into this evening’s semi-final in 1:58.65, a time that knocked Conor Ferguson’s 2017 record of 1:58.90 from the books. Feguson and Shortt are both members of the team that will represent Ireland at the World Aquatics Championships later this month.

16-year-old Shortt has progressed quickly in his event, along with this strong team of young swimmers, who all had to deal with pool closures during the course of COVID-19. This evening, Shortt clocked 1:59.08, the second fastest time of his career, to progress to tomorrow’s final in fourth place.

Also securing a place in tomorrow’s finals is Ellie McCartney who will compete in the 200m Breaststroke Final. McCartney, who swims at National Centre Ulster and Ards SC swam 2:30.01 this morning to make the semi-finals, where she went on to improve her time to 2:29.43 for eighth overall.

In the Men’s 200m Breaststroke Semi-Finals, Terenure SC and Project 28 swimmer Liam O’Connor bettered his time from this morning touching in 2:19.13 for fourteenth place overall.

Evan Bailey, swimming in the 100m Butterfly semi-final was fifteenth overall. The New Ross swimmer was seventh in his semi-final in 54.87.

Also, in action today, Dylan Registe and Conor Fitzgerald were both in action in the 100m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle. Registe clocked 56.52 in the 100m Butterfly and was the best of the Irish in the 50m Freestyle in 23.69. Conor Fitzgerald touched in 57.98 in the 100m Butterfly and 24.36 in the 50m Freestyle. Adam Colgan swam 57.54 in the 100m Butterfly, Oisin Tebite 23.88 in the 50m Freestyle while Molly Mayne was 20^th overall in the 200m Breaststroke in 2:33.58.

Day 3 Results:

Men 100m Butterfly Evan Bailey 54.45 (8) 54.87 (15)

Dylan Registe 56.52 (44)

Adam Colgan 57.54 (51)

Conor Fitzgerald 57.98 (56)

Men 200m Backstroke John Shortt 1:58.65 (1) (ISR/IJR) SF 1:59.08 (4) Final

Men 200m Breaststroke Liam O’Connor 2:19.22 (11) SF 2:19.13 (14)

Women 200m Breaststroke Ellie McCartney 2:30.01 (5) SF 2:29.43 (8) Final

Molly Mayne 2:33.58 (20)

Men 50m Freestyle Dylan Registe 23.69 (30)

Oisin Tebite 23.88 (36)

Conor Fitzgerald 24.36 (54)