It was a fruitful morning for Irish swimmers at the Olympic Complex Otopeni, Romania with seven semi-final swims secured for tonight, along with Danielle Hill swimming the 50m Backstroke Final.
Hill, and Maria Godden, were first in action this morning with both taking places in the 100m Backstroke Semi-Final. Hill touched in 59.24 for 14th overall, while Godden was 15th in 59.39.
Hill will complete a double this evening with the 100m Backstroke first up, followed by the 50m Backstroke Final an hour later.
New Ross’s Evan Bailey secured his first senior international semi-final in the 200m Freestyle. Bailey, competing at his first senior international meet swam a personal best time of 1:46.65 to advance 15th overall.
The 18-year-old said after the race ‘It’s great to be in against the guys in there, against all those seniors, it’s just a great experience, you learn so much, turns, underwaters, and can bring that home and work on it.’
400m Individual Medley bronze medallist at this meet, Ellen Walshe, completed an impressive double. Walshe won her heat of the 100m Butterfly in 57.59 and was third fastest overall, just twenty minutes later, she won her 200m Individual Medley heat in 2:11.62 with the ninth fastest time to secure her second semi-final this evening.
Ellie McCartney was also impressive in the 200m Individual Medley, touching in 2:11.99 to progress to the semi-final tenth overall. And, in a situation not faced by Ireland previously, Ards’ Grace Davison (2:14.36), despite finishing in the top sixteen, missed out on making the semi-final, with a rule in place that only two swimmers per nation can progress past the heats.
Max McCusker completed the morning for Ireland, making the semi-final of the 50m Butterfly. McCusker’s time of 22.92 was good enough to win his heat and rank 11th overall.
Also, in action this morning, Lisburn’s Dylan Registe swam a personal best time of 24.37 in the 50m Butterfly, while Terenure’s Liam O’Connor clocked 2:12.18 in the 200m Breaststroke.
2023 European Aquatics SC Swimming Championships (Otopeni, Romania)
Day 4 – Friday 8th December l Results
| Women’s 100m Backstroke | Danielle Hill | 59.24 (14th) |
| Maria Godden | 59.39 (15th) | |
| Men’s 200m Freestyle | Evan Bailey | 1:46.65 (15th) |
| Women’s 100m Butterfly | Ellen Walshe | 57.59 (3rd) |
| Men’s 200m Breaststroke | Liam O’Connor | 2:12.18 (22nd) |
| Women’s 200m IM | Ellen Walshe | 2:11.62 (9th) |
| Grace Davison | 2:14.36 (16th) | |
| Ellie McCartney | 2:11.99 (10th) | |
| Men’s 50m Butterfly | Max McCusker | 22.92 (11th) |
| Dylan Registe | 24.37 (39th) |
Day 4 – Friday 8th December l Schedule (All times Irish)
| Women’s 100m Backstroke SF | Danielle Hill, Maria Godden | 4.19pm |
| Men’s 200m Freestyle SF | Evan Bailey | 4.28pm |
| Women’s 100m Butterfly SF | Ellen Walshe | 4.38pm |
| Women’s 50m Backstroke Final | Danielle Hill | 5.16pm |
| Women’s 200m IM SF | Ellen Walshe, Ellie McCartney | 5.31pm |
| Men’s 50m Butterfly SF | Max McCusker | 5.41pm |
