The penultimate morning of Swim Ireland’s Irish Open Championships and Olympic Trials saw Danielle Hill blaze through the NAC pool to cement her status as Ireland’s fastest ever woman.
Larne swimmer Hill stopped the clock on 24.95 in the 50m free heat, dipping under the 25-second mark for the first time and setting a new Irish and Championship Record. Hill’s previous best was 25.15 set in 2022. The 24-year-old, who earlier in the week reserved her seat on the plane to Paris, will target the 50 Free Olympic Qualification Time of 24.70 later Saturday evening.
𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗢𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗗
Danielle Hill confirms status as the 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 Irish woman!
Hill blazes through the NAC pool to go under the 25-second mark for the first time 🔥
50 Freestyle Irish Senior Record 👉 24.95#IrishOpen2024 pic.twitter.com/96ZjalOSFU
— Swim Ireland (@swimireland) May 25, 2024
Amelia Kane, fresh off the back of winning the 400m Freestyle national gold medal last night, came home fastest in the 800m Freestyle Heats with 9:14.72. Holly McInerney (Templeogue) was second fastest with 9:20.18, both will go head-to-head for the national gold in Sunday’s final.
Just five tenths of a second separated National Centre Limerick’s Ellie McCartney (2:32.48) and National Centre Dublin’s Niamh Coyne (2:32.94) in the morning’s 200m Breaststroke Heat, both returning to the blocks in the evening with ambitions to advance to Sunday’s Super Final.
In the 200m Freestyle Ards’ Grace Davison, swimming in heat one, advanced through the heats quickest in 2:02.73. Davison will look to continue her impressive week as she returns to the blocks later in the evening for the A Final. The Irish record holder in the event, Victoria Catterson, was second fastest in 2:03.70.
Saturday night will see Ellen Walshe (100m Butterfly) return for a Super Final. The Women’s 200m Backstroke Super Final also takes place in the evening. Competition continues from 5pm.