Swimming: Irish swimmer Melanie Nocher finished third in her 200m freestyle heat with a new personal best time of 2:01.33 on the third day of the World Long Course Championships in Shanghai, China.
The 23-year-year-old is relatively new to the freestyle scene, but put in a good performance, particularly on the third 50m and closing stages.
The Loughborough student had a split of 59.07 at the halfway mark to maintain her position alongside leader Joerdis Steinegger of Austria. The Co Down swimmer’s previous best was 2:01.35 at the Irish Long Course Nationals in Dublin in April.
“That was kind of the game plan, not to go out too hard and then kind of lose it coming back. It’s all really preparation for Friday, for the 200m back,” said an exhausted Nocher after the race who eventually finished 31st overall.
“I wasn’t happy yesterday and it got me a bit all over the place, but you’ve got to realise as well it’s a world international competition and it’s a lot harder to swim PB’s (personal best) in the morning than it is in the evening and I think it’s just getting used to swimming fast in the morning, so for me that’s a good time.”
Barry Murphy was also in action today and the Dublin swimmer clocked 28.13 in his 50m breaststroke heat to finish 18th overall. Unfortunately that was two places shy of advancing to tonight’s semi-final. Murphy, who has been training with world renowned coach Mike Bottom at Club Wolverine in Michigan for the past year, was disappointed with the swim.
“Don’t know what happened, don’t think I’ve done the right work in the last couple of weeks,” said Murphy. “It’s a shame, because I’ve worked so hard this year. Think I was slipping a bit on the finish, last five strokes to the wall, everything else felt alright. Good start, good breakout, good first 25m. I just tied up at the end a bit."
Murphy will go in the 50m freestyle on Friday morning, his last remaining event of the championships.
“I’ve learned that maybe what I did over the last couple of weeks I should probably not do again next year before the Olympics,” said Murphy. “I’ve got the 50m free, let’s just see how that goes.”
There are no Irish swimmers in action tomorrow. The women’s 4x200m freestyle team relay are in action on Thursday.
Day 3 Results:
Heats:
M 50m breaststroke: B. Murphy 28.13, 18th place
W 200m freestyle: M. Nocher 2:01.33, 31st place