McCartney, Cassin, Corby and Rynn Secure Finals in Slovakia; Walshe and McSharry Advance in Rome

A busy morning of action in Slovakia saw last night’s newly crowned European U23 Champion Ellie McCartney progress to another final along with Jack Cassin, Eoin Corby and Cormac Rynn, while in Rome, Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry will have second swims following their morning performances.

Newly minted 200m IM Champion McCartney was back in the pool on Friday morning for the heats of the 100m Breaststroke where she clocked 1:08.70 to advance to this evening’s 5.13pm Final in fifth place overall. The National Centre Limerick (NCL) swimmer has a personal best of 1:06.97 from the Irish Open in April this year.

Jack Cassin, another National Centre Limerick swimmer, had the swim of his life in the 200m Butterfly heats. The 21-year-old from Cork touched in 1:57.69 to place second in his heat and second overall, knocking over a second off his previous best of 1:58.71.

The impressive swims continued from the John Szaranek trained NCL swimmers as Eoin Corby won his 200m Breaststroke heat in style, turning at the last 50m in third place to touch first in 2:12.77. The Limerick man, who has a personal best of 2:10.50 from 2021, will be the third seed in Friday evening’s final.

And then a fourth National Centre Limerick swimmer secured a final place, 19-year-old Cormac Rynn was just outside his best of 3:53.70 in the 400m Freestyle touching in 3:54.10, securing the eighth and final place.

In Rome, Ellen Walshe cruised into the 400m Individual Medley Final, placing fourth in her heat and sixth overall in 3:50.32. In the 50m Breaststroke Heats, Mona McSharry, silver medallist in the 100m Breaststroke on Thursday, was ninth in 31.20 and will compete in the B Final.

Also, in action in Slovakia, Maria Godden just missed the 100m Backstroke Final, touching ninth overall in 1:02.57, Lottie Cullen swimming the same event clocked 1:02.86. 200m Freestyle Finalist Evan Bailey was back in the pool for the 50m Freestyle where just one hundredth of a second separated him and Ireland team-mate Oisin Tebite in 23.18 and 23.17 respectively. Brandon Biss rounded out the morning for Ireland in the 50m Backstroke clocking 27.17.

Day 2 Heats Results European U23 Championships

Men 400m Freestyle Cormac Rynn 3:54.10 (8^th) Q

Women 100m Breaststroke Ellie McCartney 1:08.70 (5^th) Q

Men 50m Backstroke Brandon Biss 27.17 (36^th)

Men 50m Freestyle Evan Bailey 23.18 (35^th)

Oisin Tebite 23.17 (34^th)

Women 100m Backstroke Lottie Cullen 1:02.83 (12^th)

Maria Godden 1:02.57 (9^th)

Men 200m Breaststroke Eoin Corby 2:12.77 (3^rd) Q

Men 200m Butterfly Jack Cassin 1:57.69 (2^nd) Q

Day 2 Heats Results Sette Colli

Women 400m Individual Medley Ellen Walshe 4:50.32 (6^th) Q A Final