Walshe, Ryan and Hill Advance to Semi-Finals in Budapest
Ireland’s swimmers impressed on the third morning of racing at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest as Ellen Walshe, Shane Ryan and Danielle Hill all progressed from heats to semi-finals. There was also another Irish Record for Walshe, while Jack Cassin equalled the 200m Butterfly Irish Record.
Templeogue’s Walshe continued her record-breaking form adding a fifth Irish Record over the past three days in the 100m Individual Medley. The 23-year-old, who had set the standard at 59.30 in November hacked another .45 of a second off to touch second in her heat in 58.85. The time sees her advance to the semi-final eighth overall.
Speaking after the race Walshe said ‘I’m delighted with that, as we were all saying in the call room, it is just such a fun one, you don’t have time to think about it, it just changes so quickly, so yeah, it was a bit of fun, it’s not a main event or anything, a bit of speed’.
On tonight’s semi-final she added ‘I’m used to racing a longer distance in the IM, so it’s a bit more effort coming into that, it felt like it was forcing it so much, so hopefully tonight I can be a bit more relaxed and just go out there and enjoy it.’
Shane Ryan also continued his good form after Wednesday’s 100m Freestyle Irish Record. The National Centre Dublin swimmer was one of only three swimmers under 23 seconds in the 50m Backstroke heats, clocking 22.98. The 30-year-old was second in his heat and goes into Thursday evening’s semi-final as third seed.
Commenting on the race Ryan said ‘I think that’s my best morning swim, especially after all day yesterday, so happy with that and we just try and progress on and just have fun. I’m still nervous, that’s why I love the sport’.
In the Women’s 50m Backstroke heats Danielle Hill impressed with a third-place finish in her heat in 26.67, just off her Irish Record of 26.33. The Larne swimmer goes into the semi-final in thirteenth place overall.
Speaking after her race, Hill said ‘I think, first two days pretty tough, and I’m not really too disappointed because it was where I was, I texted Peter (Hill, coach) and I was brutally honest that we hadn’t done the work and that was totally fine, you know we’d just come off the back of an Olympic Games and a European Championships which totally changed my swimming outlook, so yeah the work wasn’t there for the 100m, happy to get the hand on the wall in that 50m and now we go through the processes and see what we can do again tonight.’
National Centre Limerick’s Jack Cassin made his World Championships debut for Ireland by equalling Brendan Hyland’s 2018 Irish Record of 1:53.19 in the 200m Butterfly. It was a two second personal best for the 20-year-old who’s previous best stood at 1:55.21. Cassin was fourth in his heat and sixteenth overall.
Cassin spoke after the race ‘I’m so happy, honestly, I didn’t really expect to go that time. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to be over here in Budapest.
On making his World Championships debut he added ‘I mean I think it’s a completely different scene, Europeans in Belgrade definitely felt like a higher up competition, but this just feels like a whole other level so I’m happy to tap into that and you know give it my best shot and represent my country over here.
Cassin returns for the 400m Individual Medley on Saturday.
Nathan Wiffen was the final Irish swimmer in action on Thursday morning, taking to the blocks for the 400m Freestyle. The Loughborough swimmer swam his second-best time ever in the event coming home in 3:44.05, just off his best time of 3:43.69. The time saw Wiffen fifth in his heat.
He spoke after the race ‘I’m tired, it really took it out of me, I actually miscounted by 50m and I was like oh no I’ve another 50m, but I’m happy enough with it.’
Wiffen is back in action on Saturday for the 800m Freestyle.
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Day 3 Heats Results – Thursday 12th December
| Female 50m Backstroke | Danielle Hill | 26.67 (13th) |
| Male 50m Backstroke | Shane Ryan | 22.98 (3rd) |
| Male 200m Butterfly | Jack Cassin | 1:53.19 (16th) =ISR |
| Female 100m Medley | Ellen Walshe | 58.85 (8th) ISR |
| Male 400m Freestyle | Nathan Wiffen | 3:44.05 (21st) |
Day 3 Finals Schedule – Thursday 12th December
| Female 50m Backstroke SF | Danielle Hill | 16.48 (IRL) |
| Male 50m Backstroke SF | Shane Ryan | 16.57 (IRL) |
| Female 100m Medley | Ellen Walshe | 17.52 (IRL) |
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