Danielle Hill starred on the opening evening of the Irish Open Swimming Championships with an Olympic Qualification Time, Irish and Championship Record of 59.11 in the 100m Backstroke. The Larne swimmer also became the first Irish woman under the one-minute mark in the event.

Hill now joins Daniel Wiffen, Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry who have already achieved the Olympic Qualifying Time for Paris.

With a target of 59.99, the 24-year-old was comfortably under to qualify for her second Olympic Games, the time puts her in prime position for a place on the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay.

Speaking after the race Hill said ‘We all know what happened last time (Tokyo), I was so narrowly close, I think this time, I had that 59.99, the first Irish woman to go sub 1 minute, and I just wanted to cement it, I didn’t want any questions asked, I just went for it and thankfully dipped under.’

On qualifying for her second Olympic Games Hill said ‘It’s pretty special I have to say, it’s probably a little bit more special than the first, because I know where I’ve been the past 2 or 3 years, I know where I was nine months ago, ready to walk away from the sport. This to me is a relief, but I’m ready to go again now.’

In the Men’s 100m Backstroke, Conor Feguson was once again just outside the OQT of 53.74 clocking 54.12. The Loughborough swimmer touched in 53.87 in this morning’s heats and will have another opportunity to lower that time in tomorrow’s Super Final.

On Thursday, Tokyo Olympian Darragh Greene takes to the blocks for the 100m Breaststroke Heats. The Women’s 100m Freestyle will see a number of athletes look to claim a place on the Women’s 4x100m Medley Relay for Paris. Tom Fannon will look to replicate his Irish Record of 21.95 to secure qualification for the Games in the 50m Freestyle. Irish Record holder Max McCusker takes to the pool in the 100m Butterfly while Niamh Coyne is the fastest entry in the Women’s 100m Breaststroke.

The action is live at the National Aquatic Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus.

 

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