Ellis McCartney has finished seventh in the final of the women’s 200m breaststroke at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
The 20-year-old couldn’t manage to replicate her 2:23.79 from Thursday’s semi-final, touching the wall in 2:25.22.
Gold went to USA’s Kate Douglass in 2:18.50, while Russian Evgeniia Chikunova earned silver and bronze was shared by South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett and Belarusian Alina Zmushka.
“I didn’t have high expectations coming into the final, at the start of this year all I wanted to do is qualify for the world champs, so, constantly this year, as the season progressed, we had to keep on moving that target, and I never thought it would be a final, but we’re here now, I have now swum a world long course final, it’s something not many people have done,” the Enniskillen swimmer said after Friday’s final.
RM Block
“Tonight’s swim may not have been the fastest I’ve ever been, but I came into this meet seeded 18th and I finished seventh, so progression is what it is, and just moving forward through each of the rounds, and I’ll take a learning from this time and hopefully apply it to future competitions.”
Meanwhile, Tom Fannon missed out on a spot in the men’s 50m freestyle, finishing 12th overall in the semi-finals.
The 27-year-old marginally improved on his time of 21.87 from the heats to clock 21.81 in the second semi-final.
In the earlier session, Jack Cassin swam a lifetime best of 52.84 in the men’s 100m butterfly. Despite finishing second in his heat the time was not enough to see him progress to the semi-finals.
And Evan Bailey, Cormac Ryan, Jack Cassin and John Shortt were on the blocks for Ireland in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay, finishing 14th overall in 7:16.70, outside the top-eight finish needed to qualify for Friday afternoon’s final.
Three Irish swimmers will be in action on Saturday; Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry in the women’s 50m breaststroke (4.03am), Danielle Hill in the women’s 50m freestyle (3.27am), and Shane Ryan in the men’s 50m backstroke (3.37am).
