Daniel Wiffen and Mona McSharry are the fastest qualifiers in the 400m Freestyle and 100m Breaststroke respectively, as the duo, who were crowned European U23 Swimming Champions in the 1500m Freestyle and 50m Breaststroke last night brought their excellent form into the second day of action at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

Maria Godden will make her second final appearance of the weekend in the 100m Backstroke Final, while Eoin Corby has advanced to the 200m Breaststroke Final.

Irish fans were treated to another exceptional session in the pool at the LEN U23 Swimming Championships with Mona McSharry first off the blocks in the 100m Breaststroke. Following her gold medal win last night, McSharry goes into this evening’s final as the top qualifier on 1:07.30.

Commenting after the swim McSharry said ‘It was good, I’m happy with it, it was a good morning swim. I’ve just got to get out and race it tonight’.

Daniel Wiffen cruised to the top spot in the 400m Freestyle after winning his heat in 3:49.12. The Magheralin man will be looking to add a second European U23 Championships Title to his collection at 19.50 this evening.

Speaking after his race Wiffen said ‘It felt pretty comfortable, I pushed it a bit at the start and then just sat back, so I’m pretty happy. I’m semi-recovered (from last night), I’m going to go back and sleep for a bit and tonight go at it again, hit a good time, so we’ll see later’.

National Centre Limerick swimmer Eoin Corby was impressive in his 200m Breaststroke heat, touching first in 2:12.67 to progress to the final in third place overall.

Corby knew what to expect going into the race and executed his plan ‘I knew going into the race I’d have to be on form, my goal going in was to try and win that heat because I knew all the lads would be going 2:12 and 2:11, I just wanted to get a good lane for the final and went for it this morning, I’m very happy with it.’

After a sixth-place finish in the 50m Backstroke last night, Maria Godden posted a speedy 1:02.20 in the 100m Backstroke and is through to tonight’s final in fourth place overall.

Commenting after her race Godden said, ‘It was ok, I probably would have liked it to be 61 point but I got 62 dead, so just off the mark a little bit, it’s faster than both the 100m Backstroke swims I did at Nationals two weeks ago, so a bit of rest and recovery and hopefully then I’ll swim faster tonight’.

In the 400m Freestyle, Grace Hodgins clocked 4:25.28 to finish is tenth place overall and will return this evening as a reserve for the final. John Shortt, competing in the 50m Backstroke touched in 26.56.

Oisin Tebite, made his senior debut for Ireland in the 50m Freestyle, in his home pool, touching in 23.46, just .15 of a second off his personal best of 23.31.

In the 200m Butterfly, Jack Cassin came home in 2:00.12 for twelfth place overall, while Molly Mayne went 1:13.08 in the 100m Breaststroke and Liam O’Connor 2:20.10 in the 200m Breaststroke.

As well as McSharry, Wiffen, Corby and Godden, last night’s gold, and silver medallist Ellen Walshe, will compete in the 400m Individual Medley Final.

Results Saturday 12th August 2023

F 400m Freestyle Grace Hodgins 4:25.28 (10)
M 400m Freestyle Daniel Wiffen 3:49.12 (1)
F 100m Breaststroke Mona McSharry

Molly Mayne

 1:07.30 (1)

1:13.08 (27)
M 50m Backstroke John Shortt 26.56 (29)
M 50m Freestyle Oisin Tebite 23.46 (45)
W 100m Backstroke Maria Godden 1:02.20 (4)
M 200m Breaststroke Eoin Corby

Liam O’Connor

 2:12.67 (3)

2:20.12 (20)
F 50m Freestyle Mona McSharry 25.64 (13)
M 200m Butterfly Jack Cassin 2:00.20 (12)

Finals Schedule Saturday 12th August 2023

W 100m Breaststroke Final Mona McSharry 18.00
W 100m Backstroke Final Maria Godden 18.48
M 200m Breaststroke Final Eoin Corby 18.57
W 400m Individual Medley Final Ellen Walshe 19.36
M 400m Freestyle Final Daniel Wiffen 19.50