Ireland’s two finalists on day four of the European Aquatics Championships in Paris both recorded seventh-place finishes, with Danielle Hill in the 50m Backstroke and Jack Kelly in the 200m Breaststroke. There was further success for the Irish team as Mona McSharry and Ellie McCartney both progressed to Friday’s 200m Breaststroke Final.
Competing in her first final of the championships, Hill finished seventh in a high-quality 50m Backstroke final, touching in 27.91, just outside the 27.85 she posted in Wednesday’s semi-final.
The race saw Italy’s Sara Curtis claim gold and lower her own World Record for the second time in as many days, winning in 26.56.
Hill said after the race ‘I’m really happy, I’m obviously a little bit disappointed though, I think there was a better swim in there. I finished a little bit short, which I’ve now done six times in a row, I know there’s a better swim, but in those fifties, it has to be perfect, and that just wasn’t, so I’m happy to be back where I am again.’
She added ‘Nine months ago, I couldn’t get out of bed, with my first physio session I remember having to sit down after five minutes because I felt nauseous, so I’ve come a long way since then, and even backstroke wise, it was the last thing that got introduced into the programme. I have a really good block coming up into the winter and just get the head down again into LA.’
Swimming his second final of the week, Jack Kelly matched his seventh-place finish from the 100m Breaststroke with another top eight result in the 200m Breaststroke.
Kelly got off to a strong start and led the race after the opening 50 metres before slipping back through the field over the closing stages to finish seventh in 2:10.58. The time was outside the Irish Record of 2:09.23 that he set in Wednesday’s semi-final.
Great Britain’s Filip Nowacki took gold in 2:07.70, with the Netherlands’ Casper Corbeau claiming silver in 2:07.78 and Austria’s Luka Mladenovic securing bronze in 2:08.91.
Kelly said ‘It was a tough one, third 200m, I’m just getting used to that, and I just wanted to put myself out there and I did. Maybe I paid a little bit at the end, but can’t really be too upset, it was a great swim, and it’s been a great meet so far. Two finals, coming into the meet I didn’t think I would, so to go two for two I’m really happy with that.’
Reflecting on his first European Championships, he added ‘I definitely have the training to do it, but I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a meet where it’s week-long. So, I think today’s Thursday, I’m probably off track of the days, but it just comes to show it’s a marathon, and just getting used to the type of meet like that. I’d rather work on the kinks right now and figure that that stuff out now and then be prepared for the way bigger meets.’
Mona McSharry and Ellie McCartney then ensured Ireland will have two representatives in Friday’s 200m Breaststroke Final with impressive semi-final performances.
McSharry won the opening semi-final in 2:23.53, just outside the 2:23.37 she swam in the morning heats. McCartney finished fifth in the second and faster semi-final, producing a season’s best 2:24.15. World Record holder Evgeniia Chikunova won the race in 2:20.71, ahead of 100m Breaststroke champion Angharad Evans in 2:20.96.
Speaking afterwards, McSharry said ‘That one definitely hurt a bit, I was hoping for something a bit faster, but I think considering the last couple of days of racing, I just need a good night’s sleep, and then come back tomorrow, and I’m excited for the final, it should be a good one.’
On returning to competition less than 24 hours after winning 100m Breaststroke silver, she added ‘I think it’s just the mental game more so than physical, you know, your mind’s tired, and it’s kind of hard to push through there, but I was happy with how I went into it this morning, I was definitely ready to go, and even tonight, I’m job done, I’m in the final, so I’m looking forward to it.’
Looking ahead to the final, she said ‘I think that’ll be really good because I know I have the capability of going faster than a 2:22, and it’ll be nice to have some girls that are also going that fast and be able to swim beside them.’
McCartney was equally pleased with her performance, saying ‘I’m over the moon to build on what was such a success last week in Glasgow and improve that time again. I’m really happy, it’s a season’s best, a little bit closer to my PB, so we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.’
On competing at two major championships in quick succession, she added ‘It’s been great, and being able to manage the two, it’s something that me and my coach (John Szaranek) have talked about, so being able to see it in progress, in the works, and see that it’s turning out okay, it’s great. Last year we had about 2 weeks between under 23s and worlds and that worked out pretty well. So, I tried to think of it this year as something similar, we knew from the start of year it was going to be the case so practising racing back-to-back throughout the past eight to twelve months is really helpful.’
Looking ahead to Friday evening’s final, she said: ‘I’m super excited, not only to race, but to do it alongside Mona, it’s great. I’m not sure we’ve ever been in an international final together, so it’s good to have the two of us and we’ll really push each other along.’
The 200m Breaststroke Final will take place on Friday at 5.43pm (Irish time).
Ireland will have 14 swimmers in action during Friday morning’s heats session. Before returning for the 200m Breaststroke Final in the evening, McCartney will contest the heats of the 200m Individual Medley alongside newly crowned 400m Individual Medley champion Ellen Walshe.
Rosalie Phelan opens the Irish programme in the 50m Freestyle. Already a two-time finalist in Paris, Jack Kelly returns in the 50m Breaststroke alongside Eoin Corby, Darragh Greene and Adam Bradley. Danielle Hill will contest the 100m Backstroke with Lottie Cullen and Grace Davison, while Jack Cassin and Liam Custer compete in the 200m Butterfly.
The final event of the morning session sees Olympic champion Daniel Wiffen and twin brother Nathan return to the pool for the 1500m Freestyle heats.