Swimming:It was a disappointing day for Irish swimmers at the World Championships in Shanghai as a trio of hopefuls, including Grainne Murphy, were unable to live up to their expectations.
Murphy’s hopes were dashed in the 800m freestyle after the number nine seed finished 17th out of the heats in 8 minutes 35.17 seconds – not enough to advance to tomorrow evening’s final.
Murphy was in the quickest heat, wedged between Australia’s Katie Goldman and Chile’s Kristel Kobrich, and managed to keep up with the pack until the 400m mark when she fell back slightly and was never able to regain her position.
Although Murphy’s time was only just over a second outside the Olympic ‘A’ standard, it was ten seconds slower than her personal best, which she recorded last year at the European long course Championships in Budapest.
Murphy has one more event left, the 400m individual medley on Sunday. Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, 800m freestyle world record holder, had a powerful race against reigning world champion Lotte Friis to ensure her spot as fastest qualifier.
Other Irish swims included Dubliner Barry Murphy’s 50m freestyle, in which he finished 35th overall in a time of 22.96 seconds - just under a second shy of his all-time best.
“Started to tie up at the end - pretty much on par with the rest of my swims here at the meet,” said a deflated Murphy after the race. “Going back to Dublin for a while, won’t take a break, I’ll stay training all the way through. I’ve got a big one in a year’s time.”.
When asked about his competition plans for the upcoming year, Murphy said “Haven’t sat down really and hashed it out with my coach yet but I’d like to do European short course and maybe come home for (Olympic) trials in March. I’ll probably do British trials as well, as they’ll be in the Olympic pool.”
Beijing Olympian Melanie Nocher posted a time of 2:13.39 in her heat of the women’s 200m backstroke to finish 23rd – one and a half seconds outside her best.
“It was tough, I tried my best – I was just hurting a bit too much at the end,” said Nocher. “I tried and I don’t think I could have came back any faster. We have to race fast in the morning here whereas at home it’s in the afternoon and you’re relaxed. It makes a big difference, it’s easy to get into the final at home whereas here you have to go flat out in the morning and then hope that you get in,” she added.
In more positive news, sprinter Brian O’Sullivan picked up a bronze medal for swimming at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Trabazon, Turkey last night in a new personal best time of 23.66.
The EYOF competition continues today, the final day of competition.
Ireland has one swimmer in action tomorrow in Shanghai. Sycerika McMahon goes in the women’s 50m breaststroke. Heats commence at 2pm Irish time.
Day 6 Results:
Heats:
M 50m freestyle: B. Murphy 22.96, 35th place
W 200m backstroke: M. Nocher 2:13.39, 23rd place
W 800m freestyle: G. Murphy 8:35.17, 17th place