Tom Fannon Books Ticket To Paris With 21.94 Irish 50 Free Record In Dublin; Nathan Wiffen Beats Twin Daniel To 800 Title
Tom Fannon became the latest Irish swimmer to make the cut for Paris 2024 when he set an Irish 50 free record of 21.94 on day two of the Irish Open Championships and Olympic Trials in Dublin.
Fannon was 0.06 outside the Olympic qualification time of 21.96 in prelims, touching in 22.02, with the five-day meet representing the last chance to book a place on the team for Paris.
He returned to the Sport Ireland National Aquatic Centre to book his Olympic berth as he took 0.01 off his national and championship record.
Fannon became the fifth swimmer to post an OQT at the five-day meet and joins Daniel Wiffen, Danielle Hill, Ellen Walshe and Mona McSharry on the plane to the French capital.
He said:
“I’m over the moon, speechless I can’t lie. I’m so happy that I stuck to the process and the outcome took care of itself. I’m just happy to be on the plane to the Olympics this summer.”
Daniel and Nathan Wiffen: Courtesy: Swim Ireland
Nathan Wiffen was crowned 800 free champion in a PB of 7:54.69, lowering his time of 7:56.40 from Wednesday’s heats.
The Larne swimmer was once again under the consideration time for the European Aquatics Championships in June.
Twin brother Daniel was second in 8:00.61 while bronze went to National Centre Limerick’s Denis O’Brien in 8:28.43.
Grace Davison and Evan Bailey continued their onslaught on Ireland’s junior records with new standards in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly respectively.
Both swimmers had set the current records in Thursday morning’s heats.
In the 100m freestyle, Ards’ Davison lowered her time of 55.88 to 55.44 and in the 100m butterfly New Ross’ Bailey knocked .08 off his record of 53.47 to 53.39.
Conor Ferguson claimed the 100m backstroke national title for the third consecutive year in 53.99 in the Super Final with Lottie Cullen claiming her first title in the women’s equivalent with a personal best swim of 1:00.96
Niamh Coyne controlled the race to advance as the fastest qualifier to tomorrow’s 100m breaststroke Super Final in 1:08.03. The National Centre Dublin swimmer adds her name to those who have achieved consideration times for the European Aquatics Championships.
National Centre Dublin’s Darragh Greene progresses as the top seed to the Super Final of the men’s 100m breaststroke in 1:00.36.
Max McCusker, who set a new Irish record of 51.90 in the 100m butterfly on Thursday morning, topped the rankings once again in this evening’s A Final in 52.43 to progress to the Super Final in pole position.
Danielle Hill, who achieved the Olympic Qualification Time in the 100m backstroke A final on Wednesday, was first home in the 100m freestyle A final in 55.17 to advance to the Super Final as top seed.
In the 1500m freestyle Ella Carroll claimed gold. The National Centre Limerick swimmer, who has qualified for the European Junior Open Water Championships, was home in 17:35.60.
Finn McGeever won the 200m freestyle for the second time in his career and was the only swimmer under 1:50 in 1:49.36.
2024 Paris Olympic Games
Olympic Qualification Time Achieved: Daniel Wiffen (400m, 800m, 1500m Freestyle), Ellen Walshe (200m IM), Mona McSharry (100m Breaststroke), Danielle Hill (100m Backstroke) Tom Fannon (50m freestyle)
Women 4x100m Medley Relay, Men 4x100m Medley Relay*
* Two Olympic Qualification Times (OQT) are required from the team in order to confirm the Olympic place when invited
2024 European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, June 17th – 23rd
Qualification Time Achieved: Daniel Wiffen (400m, 800m, 1500m Freestyle), Ellen Walshe (200m, 400m IM, 100m Butterfly), Mona McSharry (50m, 100m, 200m Breaststroke), Evan Bailey (200m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly), Conor Ferguson (100m Backstroke), Danielle Hill (100m Backstroke), Nathan Wiffen (800m Freestyle), Ellie McCartney (200m IM), Cormac Rynn (200m Freestyle), Jack Cassin (200m Freestyle), Darragh Greene (100m Breaststroke), Eoin Corby (100m Breaststroke), Tom Fannon (50m Freestyle), Max McCusker (100m Butterfly), Lottie Cullen (100m Backstroke), Jack Kelly (100m Breaststroke), Niamh Coyne (100m Breaststroke)