Hill Sets Another Irish Record, Advances to Backstroke Semi-Finals
Danielle Hill continued her impressive form at the European Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships, breaking her third Irish Record in as many days. Hill, who broke the Irish 50m Freestyle Record twice on Tuesday, set a new Irish standard of 26.59 in the heats of the 50m Backstroke, winning her heat and progressing to the semi-final in third place overall.
The Larne swimmer had held the previous Irish best at 26.74 from the 2019 edition of the European Championships.
Hill, who finished ninth in the 50m Freestyle Semi-Finals on Monday, just missing out on a Final place said ‘I think the main thing this morning was trying to get through, I ran with the disappointment of the first day, missing out on that Final, and you know I don’t want to be in that position again, so trying to cement myself within the top eight as I go through the rounds. But yes, I’m happy with this morning and got to go again tonight.’
50m Backstroke Finalist Shane Ryan was back in action this morning in the 100m Backstroke Heats. Ryan clocked 51.95 to secure a place in the semi-final, however, the National Centre Dublin swimmer will withdraw to concentrate on the 100m Freestyle on Saturday.
Also, in action in the 100m Backstroke, John Shortt swam a best time of 52.50.
Victoria Catterson was the best of three Irish swimmers in the 100m Freestyle. Catterson swam a personal best 54.23 and will be the first reserve for this evening’s semi-final. Erin Riordan touched in 55.06 and Grace Davison in 55.75.
Davison was also in action in the 50m Backstroke, finishing in 29.19, and in the same event, last night’s 200m Backstroke Semi-Finalist Maria Godden swam a personal best 28.09.
Tom Fannon was the final Irish swimmer to compete this morning when had an opportunity for another swim in the 50m Freestyle after a four-way tie for tenth place and the second reserve spot in yesterday’s semi-final. The National Centre Dublin swimmer, who set a new Irish Record of 21.21 last night, was second in the swim-off in 21.36, placing him eleventh overall for the event.
This evening will see Hill back in action in the 50m Backstroke Semi-Finals, with both Daniel and Nathan Wiffen competing in the 1500m Freestyle Final.
2023 European Aquatics SC Swimming Championships (Otopeni, Romania)
Day 3 – Thursday 7th December l Results
| Women’s 100m Freestyle | Victoria Catterson | 54.23 (22nd) |
| Grace Davison | 55.75 (37th) | |
| Erin Riordan | 55.06 (29th) | |
| Women’s 200m Breaststroke | Ellie McCartney | DSQ |
| Men’s 100m Backstroke | Shane Ryan | 51.95 (16th) SF |
| John Shortt | 52.50 (23rd) | |
| Women’s 50m Backstroke | Danielle Hill | 26.59 (3rd) SF ISR |
| Grace Davison | 29.19 (28th) | |
| Maria Godden | 28.09 (20th) | |
| Men’s 50m Freestyle Swim-Off | Tom Fannon | 21.36 (2nd) |
Day 3 – Thursday 7th December l Final Schedule (All times Irish)
| Men 1500m Freestyle Final | Daniel Wiffen, Nathan Wiffen | 5.04pm |
| Women 50m Backstroke SF | Danielle Hill | 5.44pm |
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