2023 Irish Open Championships Day 3: McSharry Downs 50 Breast National Record

2023 IRISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Saturday, April 1st – Wednesday, April 5th
• Sport Ireland National Aquatic Center, Dublin, Ireland
• LCM (50m)
• World Championships Qualifier
• World Championships Selection Criteria
• SwimSwam Preview
• Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results

Day three of the 2023 Irish Open Championships brought another national record, the second for Mona McSharry.

After taking the women’s 100m breast on day 2 in a new Irish standard of 1:06.04, 22-year-old McSharry followed suit in the 50m breast.

The University of Tennessee swimmer punched a result of 30.29 to take gold, surpassing her previous lifetime best and record of 30.56 in the process. That prior mark was put up just this past January at the Pro Swim Series in Knoxville.

McSharry now ranks #2 in the world this season, sitting only behind American Lilly King who owns the top time in 30.04.

Just .01 separated the top two 100m freestylers on the women’s side. Victoria Catterson got to the wall in a time of 55.70 while the 50m freestyle champion here, Danielle Hill, settled for silver in a result of 55.71. A minimum of 54.25 was needed in order to qualify for the event for the World Championships.

Hill was back in the water later in the session, taking on the women’s 50m fly. The Larne swimmer upgraded to gold in that event, winning the race in 26.96.

She’s already been as quick as 26.62 this season, a mark she clocked at the McCullagh International this past February.

The men’s 100m fly saw Max McCusker get it done for gold with the 24-year-old hitting a time of 52.96.

That represented the sole racer to get under the 53-second barrier, as Shane Ryan produced a silver medal-worthy outing of 53.75. Last night’s 400m IM record-setter Jack Cassin rounded out the top 3 in 54.29.

This 100m fly gold marks McCusker’s 3rd victory of the meet, as he took the 50m fly and 100m free top spots during the day 2 finals.

Additional Winners

• Grace Davison topped the women’s 400m IM podium in 5:08.39, despite having been quicker (4:53.83) in the prelims.
• Limerick’s Dairmuid Sutton earned 50m breast gold in 29.02.
• The men’s 800m free saw 22-year-old Nathan Wiffen score a new meet record with his gold medal-winning 8:03.79. That represents a new lifetime best and renders Wiffen just outside the list of the top 25 fastest British performers. Twin brother Daniel Wiffen has pre-qualified for this event for the World Championships.