Jack McMillan Rattles Early Season Rankings; Double Delight for Ellen Walshe in Dublin
Jack McMillan posted a fine in-season time to win the 200 free on day two of the McCullagh International in Dublin.
McMillan posted 1:46.77 to finish 0.49 ahead of Duncan Scott who clocked 1:47.26 with National Centre Limerick swimmer Jack Cassin next home in 1:51.45.
Only Rylee Erisman has gone quicker than McMillan in 2026 with his 1:46.66 at the Pro Swim Series meet in Austin last month.
McMillan added the 200 title to his winning outing over 800m on Friday when Scott won the 200 fly. The pair train together day in, day out at the University of Stirling and were teammates as the British 4×2 quartet won the world title in Singapore last year.
Ellen Walshe: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Ellen Walshe made two trips to the top of the podium at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre.
The Templeogue swimmer picked up her first gold of the night in the women’s 200 free when she prevailed in a battle with Grace Davison in 1:59.32 to 2:00.65. Bronze went to Lucy Hope (University of Stirling) in 2:01.74.
The double Olympian was back in the water moments later for the women’s 100m backstroke. Walshe and Lottie Cullen went stroke for stroke, with Walshe pulling away to pick up her second gold of the evening in 1:01.28. Cullen claimed silver in 1:02.05, while Jena Macdougald of UCD finished third in 1:03.56.
John Shortt added the 100 back to his 50 title, with a clear win in 54.36. Dean Fearn (University of Stirling) clocked 56.05 to claim silver, closely followed by Dolphins’ Charlie Cassidy in 56.75.
National Centre Limerick’s Ellie McCartney clinched the 100/200 breaststroke double clocking 2:26.53 to dominate the longer race. She was more than three seconds ahead of Kara Hanlon (Edinburgh), who posted 2:29.78, with bronze going to Maisie Brown (2:35.42) of Swim England.
Eoin Corby charged home in 2:16.29 to win the men’s event ahead of Rory Dickson (Uni of Stirling) who went 2:18.70 and National Centre Ulster’s Lachey Reed in 2:21.27.
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Edward Marcal Whittles (Chelsea and Westminster) came home in 4:25.30 to win the men’s 4IM, Tobias Birrer of Swim Regio Solothurn upgraded 800 silver to 1500 gold in 16:19.63 with Benji Jeffreys first in the men’s 50 fly in 24.14.
Icelandic swimmer Lilja Katja Andriysdóttir won the women’s 1500 in 9:14.91 with Rosalie Phelan (National Centre Ulster) winning the 50 fly in 27.25.
Also competing in the 50 fly was Para swimmer Róisín Ní Riain (National Centre Limerick), who on Friday night set a new European Para record in the S13 50m Backstroke. The double Paralympic medallist clocked 30.71 for European record, breaking the previous mark of 30.72 held by Anna Krivshina (Russia) since 2016. The record is subject to ratification from World Para Swimming.