Mona McSharry advances into final at European swimming championships

Ireland’s Mona McSharry is taking the jump from junior to senior international competition in her stride as the 17-year-old secured her place in her first senior international final at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Denmark on Friday night.

The European and World Junior champion in the 100m breaststroke was up against Europe’s best in the semi-finals where she posted a time of 1:05.40.

A delighted McSharry spoke after the race: “Amazing, it’s unreal, to be able to come from juniors into seniors and into a final, top eight in Europe, that’s a dream really. To walk up the ramp and everyone was screaming and shouting and all the tiers filled with people, it’s a great feeling.”

Looking ahead to Saturday’s final she said: “I think I raced it a little too much today, I need to concentrate more on my stroke count and trust that what I’m doing is going to work a little more tomorrow, but definitely not a bad race.”

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New Irish record

Finland’s Jenna Laukkanen posted the fastest time (1:04.89) in Friday’s heats followed by Wednesday’s 50m breaststroke gold medallist Ruta Meilutyte (1:04.95).

The 100m breaststroke final takes place on Saturday at 4.16pm (Irish time).

In the men’s 100m breaststroke semi-final, Alex Murphy was unable to match his heat time, where he set a new Irish record (57.69), but was under his previous best (58.71) for the second time on Friday touching eighth in the second semi-final for 16th place overall.

Thursday’s 200m freestyle finalist and record breaker Jordan Sloan returns to the pool Saturday for the 100m freestyle. Sloan is the current Irish record holder in the event and is joined by Calum Bain who swam a best time of 21.82 in the 50m freestyle on Friday.

After a rest day, Conor Brines and Brendan Hyland are back in the pool for the 50m butterfly, Danielle Hill competes in the 50m backstroke and Conor Ferguson swims in the 100m Individual medley heats.