Ireland’s swimmers continued to impress on the penultimate day of racing at the European Aquatics Short Course Championships in Romania.
Daniel and Nathan Wiffen have secured places in tomorrow’s 800m Freestyle Final, while Victoria Catterson, John Shortt, Shane Ryan, Max McCusker and Ellen Walshe have all progressed from their heats to this evening’s semi-finals and will join Danielle Hill and Ellie McCartney in action.
There were also two new Irish Records set as Victoria Catterson and John Shortt bettered long standing Irish bests in the 200m Freestyle and 200m Backstroke, respectively.
The Wiffen brothers will swim a second final together at the European Championships after they finished first and fifth in the 800m Freestyle Heats.
Daniel, the European Record holder in the event, knew exactly what he was doing in the final heat this morning, coming home in 7:33.38 to secure the centre lane for the final. The 22-year-old set the European Record at 7:25.96 at the Irish Winter Championships in 2022.
Speaking after the race Daniel said ‘‘It was pretty good, I had a little bit of fun in that race, I went out normal pace and then I just sat back after I got the lead just to make it not as tough on me for the final tomorrow, now it’s all about recovery’
Nathan had another outstanding swim, placing second in his heat in a huge twelve second personal best time of 7:34.78. His previous best was 7:46.40 which he swam during the final of the 1500m Freestyle Final on Thursday.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s final Nathan said ‘I came in here and thought it would be difficult to make a final at my first senior meet, or ever at any international, so to make two finals is pretty unreal in my opinion. The 800m is my main event, so I was surprised to make it in the 1500m, so yeah, I’m very excited.’
Catterson got the ball rolling for Ireland on day five in Romania with a 1:56.90 Irish Record in the 200m Freestyle, breaking Melanie Nocher’s 2011 standard of 1:57.29. Catterson’s own previous best had stood at 1:57.91, the National Centre Dublin swimmer now own’s the short course and long course versions of the record.
Speaking after her race Catterson said ‘I had good morning swims in the 50m and 100m (Freestyle) but I just wanted to step up, have a really good morning swim and make sure I got a place back tonight and yeah I’ve had my eyes on that Irish record probably since I was about 15-years-old, I have the long course and I’ve been chasing the short course for so long, so to be able to stand up in the morning and do it is exciting for what’s to come.’
16-year-old John Shortt was impressive in the 200m Backstroke breaking Conor Ferguson’s 2016 Irish Senior and Irish Junior Records of 1:54.30 in 1:54.21 to progress to his first senior international semi-final.
The Galway native now has claim on the short and long course senior and junior records in the event. A delighted Shortt said ‘I feel great, I’m really tired, that hurt a lot, but it will be amazing to race these really unbelievable guys and see how quick I can go tonight.’
Ellen Walshe, who already competes in the 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley Finals this evening, now adds the 50m Butterfly semi-final to her schedule after a 25.99 second swim in this morning’s heats for twelfth place overall. Walshe is the current record Irish holder in the event in 25.90.
Shane Ryan and Max McCusker have both advanced from the 100m Freestyle Heats. Ryan was the fastest of a quartet of Irish swimmers in the event, touching in 47.00 for sixth place overall. McCusker won his heat in 48.33 and is ranked sixteenth into the semi-finals. Evan Bailey (48.53) and Oisin Tebite (50.17) both swam best times to conclude their championships.
Also, in action this morning Liam O’Connor (27.69) and Tom Fannon (27.75) swam best time in the 50m Breaststroke, while Ellie McCartney touched in 32.05 in the women’s equivalent event, McCartney will be back this evening for the 200m Individual Medley Final.
2023 European Aquatics SC Swimming Championships (Otopeni, Romania)
Day 4 – Friday 8th December l Results
| Men’s 50m Breaststroke | Liam O’Connor | 27.69 (27th) |
| Tom Fannon | 27.75 (28th) | |
| Women’s 200m Freestyle | Victoria Catterson | 1:56.90 (13th) ISR/SF |
| Grace Davison | 1:59.74 (32nd) | |
| Men’s 200m Backstroke Heats | John Shortt | 1:54.21 (13th) ISR/SF |
| Women’s 50m Breaststroke | Ellie McCartney | 32.05 (25th) |
| Men’s 100m Freestyle Heats | Max McCusker | 48.33 (18th) SF |
| Evan Bailey | 48.53 (22nd) | |
| Oisin Tebite | 50.17 (37th) | |
| Shane Ryan | 47.00 (6th) SF | |
| Women’s 50m Butterfly Heats | Ellen Walshe | 25.99 (12th) SF |
| Men’s 800m Freestyle Heats | Daniel Wiffen | 7:33.38 (1st) |
| Nathan Wiffen | 7:34.78 (5th) |
Day 5 – Saturday 9th December l Finals Schedule
| Women’s 100m Backstroke Final | Danielle Hill | 4pm |
| Women’s 100m Butterfly Final | Ellen Walshe | 4.13pm |
| Women’s 200m Freestyle | Victoria Catterson | 4.26pm |
| Women 200m IM Final | Ellen Walshe, Ellie McCartney | 4.46pm |
| Men’s 100m Freestyle SF | Max McCusker, Shane Ryan | 5.31pm |
| Women’s 50m Butterfly SF | Ellen Walshe | 5.40pm |
| Men’s 200m Backstroke SF | John Shortt | 5.57pm |
