Danielle Hill Fires Off Irish 59.11 100 Back Record, Qualifies For Paris 2024

2024 IRISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS & OLYMPIC TRIALS

The 2024 Irish Open Championships kicked off today from Dublin with swimmers vying for slots on the nation’s roster for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, France.

25-year-old Danielle Hill wasted no time putting her prowess on display, firing off a new national record en route to claiming the top seed in tonight’s semi-final of the women’s 100m backstroke.

Hill stopped the clock tonight in a time of 59.11 to beat the field by 2 seconds en route to landing lane 4 for tomorrow evening’s main event. The next-closest competitor was Jena Macdougald who touched in 1:01.12 followed by Maria Godden who logged 1:02.28.

Hill’s performance represents a monster new personal best and her first-ever foray under the minute barrier in the event. Entering this competition, the Larne swimmer’s career-quickest rested at the 1:00.16 she produced just last month at the McCullagh International Swim Meet.

Hill’s New Irish Record – 59.11 Hill’s Old Irish Record – 1:00.16
28.49 29.18
30.62 30.98

Hill’s outing easily cleared the World Aquatics Olympic Qualification Time of 59.99 needed for Paris.

The Irish speedster now ranks 9th in the world this season.

2023-2024 LCM Women 100 Back

ReganUSA
SMITH
06/18
57.13 WR
2Kaylee
McKEOWN
AUS57.33 07/30
3Katharine
BERKOFF
USA57.8306/17
4Mollie
O'CALLAGHAN
AUS57.8806/11
5Kylie
MASSE
CAN57.9405/15
6Claire
CURZAN
USA58.2902/13
7Iona
ANDERSON
AUS58.4306/11
8 Kennedy
NOBLE
USA58.5506/17
9Emma
TEREBO
FRA58.7906/17
9Josephine
Fuller
USA58.7906/17
View Top 51»

5
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

5 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
hin qaiyang
6 months ago

This event is ridiculously fast rn

Sub13
6 months ago

It took a 59.30 to make the final in Tokyo.

Including the 2 per nation rule and assuming Russia doesn’t enter, this makes her 8th since 1 March 2023 (the qualifying period).

Paris could have the very first race with 8 women under 59 if everyone does well.

Boknows34
7 months ago

Absolutely crushed it. She’s been in the form of her life since Euro SC. With the two per nation rule Hill might sneak into the final if she repeats that performance in Paris.

Scuncan Dott v2
7 months ago

Quite stupid to have semis in a 5 day meet.

wetterman
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
7 months ago

I’m sure Conor Ferguson would disagree…. The point being to give athletes the best and the most chances to make the cut.

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

Read More »