Mona McSharry & Dan Wiffen Hint At More Gold At LEN European U23 Championships

Mona McSharry: Picture Courtesy: Istvan Derencsenyi/LEN

Mona McSharry & Dan Wiffen Hint At More Gold At LEN European U23 Championships

Mona McSharry and Dan Wiffen continued Ireland’s fine form in the pool on the second morning of prelims at the LEN European U23 Championships in Dublin.

Ireland finished day one with three golds – courtesy of McSharry, Wiffen and Ellen Walshe – and one silver.

While the USA, South Africa and Zimbabwe are competing at the Sport Ireland: National Aquatics Centre, only European nations are included in the medal placings.

McSharry – already with one gold to her name in the 50 breaststroke – topped the 100 field in 1:07.30.

The Tokyo Olympian finished fifth at the World Championships in Fukuoka and she finished some way clear of Kaitlyn Dobler of the USA (1:08.13) and Denmark’s Clara Rybak-Andersen (1:08.92).

Wiffen gave the Dublin crowd an exhibition of distance swimming on Friday when he went 14:35.79 in the 1500 free, the fifth-fastest in the world this year and second of his career.

Dan Wiffen: Photo Courtesy: István Derencsény/LEN

The Irishman topped the 400 prelims in 3:49.12 ahead of 1500 silver medallist Sven Schwarz (3:49.38).

Also through was Petar Mitsin in 3:51.37, the Bulgarian having set a WJR of 3:44.31 at last month’s European Junior Championships.

Ukraine’s Vladislav Bukhov went 21.95 in the men’s 50 free with Stergios-Marios Bilas of Greece also going inside 22 in 1.98.

Nicholas Lia was next through in 22.03.

Grace Cooper of the USA headed the women’s 50 free, the only swimmer inside 25 in 24.96 with Slovenia’s Neza Klancar the first European to book lane five in 25.01.

Chmielewski Family Affair In The 200 Fly

Krzysztof Chmielewski – who won silver in Fukuoka – heads the 200 fly in 1:56.27, 0.07 ahead of twin brother Michal who clocked 1:56.34.

The Polish pair were the only men inside 1:57 and with both men having a very different approach to prelims, it promises to go stroke-for-stroke down the last 50.

Luca Janssen of the Netherlands went 2:11.22 in the men’s 200 breaststroke prelims ahead of France’s Lucien Vergnes (2:12.05) and Ireland’s Eoin Corby (2:12.67).

Isabelle Stadden was well clear of the field in the 100 back, posting 59.94 with Poland’s Adela Piskorska the first European in 1:01.64.

Isabel Gose won the 800 on Friday evening before returning to the pool to dominate the 400 prelims in 4:08.51.

Germany teammate Leonie Maertens booked lane five in 4:12.70 as the pair appear on course to replicate their 1-2 finish over 800.

Emma Sticklen of the USA headed the 200 fly in 2:09.54 with Spain’s Laura Cabanes Garzas the first European in 2:12.10.

Britain’s Jonathon Adam heads the 50 back in 25.09 and Vasileios Sofikitis headed the men’s 4IM in 4:20.66 with the fastest heat due to go in the evening session.

Name*

Email*

Welcome to our community. We invite you to join our discussion. Our community guidelines are simple: be respectful and constructive, keep on topic, and support your fellow commenters. Commenting signifies that you agree to our Terms of Use