The weekend at the Sport Ireland Campus saw a host of new Irish Senior Records on the opening two days of the Irish Open Swimming Championships.
Ellen Walshe, Jack Cassin, Mona McSharry and Tom Fannon all set new standards at the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre.
Walshe highlighted the opening night with a new Irish Senior Record and Championship Record in the 100m Butterfly.
Walshe, who was the first Irish swimmer to swim under 1 minute in the 100m Butterfly in 2020, broke 59 seconds for the first time in Saturday morning’s heats in 58.32. The Templeogue swimmer then broke 58 seconds in the final to clock the eighth fastest time in the World this season in a blistering 57.96.
Walshe’s time was under the World Aquatics ‘A’ time for the 2023 World Championships in Japan and the consideration time for the European U23 Championships in Dublin in August.
Daniel Wiffen won the 400 metres title in 3:52.83 and was joined on the podium by his twin brother Nathan who claimed silver in 3:54.65.
Shane Ryan was impressive in winning the 50m Backstroke, taking the Irish Title half a second ahead of second placed John Shortt of National Centre Limerick in 25.67. Swim Belfast’s Brandon Biss completed the podium in 27.19.
National Centre Limerick’s Jack Cassin closed out the day with a win in the 200m Butterfly as the only swimmer under the 2-minute mark in 1:59.72, bringing the number of swimmers under consideration for the European U23 Championships to seven after one day of competition.
Tom Fannon set his first Irish Senior Record in the 50m Freestyle on Sunday and became the first Irishman under 22 seconds in 21.95, the seventh fastest time in the World this year. The previous record of 22.14 was held by Barry Murphy, set at the super-suited 2009 World Championships in Rome.
Fannon set the time as a split in the 100m Freestyle heats, ultimately finishing outside of the final’s spots. The 25-year-old will go again in the 50m Freestyle on Wednesday, and a repeat performance will see him considered for the World Championships in Japan.
18-year-old Jack Cassin was another to set a first Irish Senior Record, in the Men’s 400m Individual Medley Final. Cassin touched in 4:22.57, breaking Cadan McCarthy’s 2021 record of 4:23.22. The National Centre Limerick swimmer also broke the Irish Junior Record in the event as well as going under the consideration time for the European Under 23 Championships.
