Swimming:Ireland's swimmers achieved more personal goals and set more Irish records at the World Swimming Championships but they were still some way off the qualifying standards in their respective disciplines in Rome.
Ryan Harrison and Barry Murphy lined-out in the 100metre freestyle heats and both took their turn to lower the Irish record. Murphy was first into the water and lowered the old time (49.98) to 49.76 seconds, before Harrison reduced it again in the next heat with his time of 49.49 seconds.
Neither time was good enough to secure one of the 16 automatic qualifying spots for the semi-finals as Harrison finished 44th with Murphy in 51st overall.
On a positive note Murphy earlier became the first Irishman to break the 50 second barrier in the men’s 4x100m freestyle team relay. Murphy and Harrison, University of Tennessee team-mates, will team-up for Ireland in Sunday’s medley relay.
“That felt awesome - my first 50metres was good then I came back really strong on the second 50. It feels great to go under 50 (seconds) too and it’s looking good now for the medley relay on Sunday,” said Harrison after the race.
Wexford’s Grainne Murphy went in the women’s 200m butterfly and lowered here own Irish junior record with a time of 2.13.66 to finish in 30th place overall.
Dubliner Aisling Cooney was in action in the 50metre backstroke and touched the wall in 29.69 to finish 46th.
Irish swimmers in action tomorrow are Fiona Doyle and Clare Dawson (100m freestyle), Karl Burdis (200m backstroke), Andrew Bree (200m breaststroke) and the women’s 4x200m freestyle team relay.