Dec 15,2024
Ellen Walshe is set for a second world final this afternoon after an impressive third-place finish in her heat in the 400m medley at the World Aquatics Short Course Championships in Budapest.
Already pencilled in for the 100m butterfly final after posting a new Irish record in Friday's blistering heat, the 23-year old Dubliner clocked a time of 4:29.78 in the 400m medley this morning, qualifying with some ease as the fifth fastest overall.
Walshe, who is seeking a second world short-course medal in the event after claiming silver in Abu Dhabi in 2021, will compete in today's final at 5.30pm, just under an hour after her butterfly final.
"I think the two finals is going to be tough tonight so whatever I have left is whatever I have left," said Walshe.
"I’m hurting now and I think to finish on a 400m IM is pretty tough, it felt tough this morning, but I know after doing it once this morning that it will be the last race tonight. It has been a great meet and it has been exciting."
After his bronze medal showing on Friday, Shane Ryan registered a new Irish record to squeeze into the semi-finals of the men's 50m freestyle.
Ryan, who took his second bronze medal in the 50m backstroke yesterday, clocked a time of 21.07 to place sixth in his heat and 14th overall, earning a spot in Lane 1 in the first semi-final later this afternoon at 5.21pm.
Ryan said: "I didn't feel great at all this morning. It’s a PB, but I know what I’m capable of. I can be a bit faster on that... and have a bit of fun tonight."
"You have to give it 100%, no matter how your body is feeling, and try to represent the country the best you can and that’s what I did this morning."
In the same event, Tom Fannon was agonisingly just outside the qualifying places after clocking a time of 21.25, just shy of his personal best, when finishing sixth in his heat.
Fannon, who set an Irish record in the event at the Paris Olympics, placed 17th overall and is first reserve for today's semi-finals.
Larne's Danielle Hill was just two places outside the qualifying spots in the 50m freestyle, bringing her championships to a close with a time of 24.35 after finishing fifth in her heat.
Hill, a European gold medallist and Olympic semi-finalist earlier this year, said: "It has been a lot of learning, a lot of near misses but you know I’ve been through this exact process I don’t know how many times and I’m in a much better place mentally.
"It’s just about going back and doing more work, I think that’s the harsh reality of it all, I haven’t done enough work and that’s absolutely fine."
Eoin Corby, who set a new national record in the 200m breaststroke on Friday, clocked a time of 27.44 to finish eighth in his heat in the 50m breaststroke, while Niamh Coyne's championships drew to a close with a seventh-place finish (31.48) in her heat in the women's 50m breaststroke.
Jack Cassin clocked a time of 4:12.96 to place 26th overall in the 400 medley, well outside the qualifying places.
Nathan Wiffen goes in the 'fastest heat' of the 800m freestyle at 5.54pm, the result of which will be combined with this morning's four heats to determine the medals and final placings.
The twin brother of 800m Olympic champion Daniel was ninth overall in the 1500m on Tuesday.
