Mona McSharry Takes Down Irish 200m Breaststroke Record to Go Third in Rankings
Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry set an Irish and Championship record in the 200m breaststroke at the Irish Open in Bangor.
McSharry, who is based in Tennessee, dominated the race finishing in 2:22.22, inside her 2024 Irish standard of 2:22.49 and the Championship mark of 2:23.02 she swam in this morning’s heats. The time is the third fastest in the world so far this year behind the USA’s Kate Douglass (2:22.01) and Great Britain’s Angharad Evans (2:22.02).
Speaking after the race the 26-year-old said: “It’s pretty exciting, that 200 breaststroke is that event where you never really know where it’s going to be on every day, I mean it’s just to nice to see the hard work in training pay off and be able to put together a really good race.”
National Centre Limerick’s Ellie McCartney was second in 2:25.72, under the consideration times for the European Championships and Commonwealth Games, while Shark’s Niamh Connery, who was under the European Junior consideration time in the heats, was third in 2:33.49.
Shortt Wins Second Title in as Many Days
John Shortt: Photo Courtesy: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
John Shortt secured his second Championship record of the week when he posted 25.08 in the 50 back, a day after lowering his Irish mark en-route to his 100 back title. Conor Ferguson was second in 25.46 in his first tapered race since the Paris Olympics and was within the European Championships and Commonwealth Games consideration time of 25.49.
Another Paris Olympian, Danielle Hill, claimed her first national title of the week with victory in the women’s 50m backstroke final. The Larne swimmer clocked 28.43, dipping under the European Championships and Commonwealth Games consideration time of 28.64. Lottie Cullen added silver to her 100 back title in 28.69 with Jenna Macdougald completing the podium in 29.06.
Grace Davison added the 100 free to her 200 title in 1:59.92 to break the two‑minute barrier for the first time. She goes second in the all-time Irish rankings behind Ellen Walshe who set a national record of 1:58.72 in prelims before withdrawing to focus on the 100 fly.
National Centre Ulster’s Victoria Catterson claimed silver in 2:02.03, while National Centre Limerick’s Danielle Farrell secured bronze in 2:02.62.
The move reaped benefits for Walshe who was the only athlete to dip under the one-minute mark, winning in 58.74.
Evan Bailey also completed the freestyle double with victory in the 200m freestyle, clocking 1:47.81 to dip under the consideration time for the Europeans. The National Centre Limerick swimmer led home team‑mate Cormac Rynn, who claimed silver in 1:49.41. Arvin Chahal (Stirling) secured commemorative bronze in 1:50.87, while National Centre Ulster’s Adam Colgan took national bronze in 1:52.57.
National Centre Limerick’s Jack Cassin added the 100m butterfly title to the 200m gold he claimed on Wednesday. In a close final, Cassin held off Bangor’s James Ward, touching first in 53.06 to Ward’s 53.19.
Jack Kelly claimed his second national title of the week as he added 200m breaststroke gold to the 50m title he secured on Thursday. The Terenure swimmer was dominant throughout, touching first in 2:12.55. National Centre Ulster’s Lachey Reed took silver in 2:18.21, with Dolphin’s Tiernan Moore rounding out the podium in 2:18.49.