Ireland’s Mona McSharry has won a European Bronze medal on the opening night of competition at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Hungary.
The 15 year old Sligo native who swims with Marlins SC in Donegal joins Olympians Grainne Murphy and Sycerika McMahon as a European Junior medallist after placing third in tonight’s 50m Breaststroke Final.
McSharry had progressed from the morning heats as the fastest qualifier in a best time of 32 seconds. She moved to second after the afternoon semi-final in 32.12 and a blistering 31.98 saw her third and on the podium in the Final behind Slovenia’s duo of Tina Celik (31.85) and Tara Vovk (31.93).
Sycerika McMahon was Ireland’s last medallist at a European Junior Championships in 2011 and claimed Gold in the same event in 32 seconds.
A delighted McSharry commented “It’s amazing, I’m really happy. I had a hectic morning, so to be able to swim two pb’s (personal bests) in the heats was great, that gave me confidence going into the semi-final and final. My finish wasn’t great in the Final so who knows what could have been. I have the 200m Breaststroke tomorrow but I’m trying not to think about that one for now!”
McSharry also competed in the 100m Freestyle today with Sundays Well swimmer Issie Hayes, where she swam 58:56 while Hayes touched in a time of 1:00:70.
Conor Ferguson cruised into tomorrow night’s 100m Backstroke Final. The 16 year old who has been making huge progressions over the last year is the second fastest qualifier into the final having won his semi-final in 54.47 seconds. Ferguson had progressed to tonight’s semi-final having won his heat in 54.62 seconds, he was the fastest qualifier in the heats. Greece’s Nikolaos Sofianidis (54.43) is the fastest seed for tomorrow’s final which will take place at 4.30pm (Irish time).
Ards’ Emma Reid was also in semi-final action tonight. The 17 year old touched in a best time of 2:17.10 in the morning heats of the 200m Butterfly to qualify in 15th place. Reid remained in 15th place after the semi-final clocking 2:18.97. Ellen Walshe also swam the 200m Butterfly heats posting a time of 2:19:83.
Niamh Coyne was Ireland’s first competitor in action today. The Tallaght swimmer competed in the 50m Breaststroke heats posting a time of 33:36. Rory McEvoy of Ennis competed in the 100m Backstroke heats, he clocked 57.85 in his first race of the championships. Ally Cunningham and Danielle Hill swam in the 200m Backstroke heats which set up their meet nicely as Cunningham posted a time of 2:23:41 and Hill swam 2:19:53. Antoinette Neamt competed in the 800m Freestyle heats this morning posting a time of 9:06.99. Neamt then teamed up with McSharry, Rebecca Reid and Hill to compete in the 400m Freestyle Relay, the quartet narrowly missed the Irish Junior Record (3:56.69) finishing in 3:56.78.
Tomorrow will see Longford’s Gerry Quinn make his European debut. The 18 year old will swim the 100m Freestyle heats. Antoinette Neamt returns to the pool for the 400m Freestyle and Niamh Coyne will join McSharry in the 200m Breaststroke heats. Ireland is also entered in the Mixed 400m Medley Relay.
Swimming news courtesy of Swimming Ireland.
