McSharry Advances to Breaststroke Final in Doha. Ferguson Thirteenth in Backstroke Semi Final.

Mona McSharry has confirmed a centre lane for tomorrow’s 100m Breaststroke Final, while Conor Ferguson edged closer to Olympic qualification on the second night of finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

McSharry eased into the 100m Breaststroke Final in second place overall, after finishing second in her heat behind China’s Quintang Tang (1:05.36). The Grange, Co. Sligo woman clocked 1:06.11, faster than this morning’s heat time of 1:06.49. McSharry holds a personal best of 1:05.55 and will be aiming to hit that time tomorrow to be in with a chance of a medal.

Speaking after her race McSharry said ‘I’m really happy, progressing it on from this morning, which was my main goal here, so I’m excited to see what I can do tomorrow, I’ve a good lane, so just race. I’ve set myself up in a good position to do what I want to do in the Summer, so you get to the final and you race what’s in the pool next to you, it’s going to be really good practice just to try and get my hands on the wall first.’

The 100m Breaststroke Final will take place on Tuesday at 5.45pm (IRL).

Conor Ferguson was under 54 seconds for just the second time in his career in the 100m Backstroke Semi-Final, swimming another personal best to finish thirteenth overall in 53.90, progressing from 53.95 in the heats. The Loughborough swimmer was just .16 off the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) of 53.74.

Ferguson will have gained great confidence from both swims and will have a third opportunity to lower the time on Sunday when he leads off the Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay ‘Bittersweet because I want the Olympic time, but I have to be happy with a pb, it’s moving in the right direction’ he commented after the race. ‘I just have to now refocus and recover for this relay, we’ve a real opportunity to get that relay across the line. There’s nothing more privileged and inspiring than an Irish relay and I want to be a part of that and I want to lead it off.’

Tomorrow, 400m Freestyle finalist Daniel Wiffen returns to the pool for the 800m Freestyle. Victoria Catterson will be seeking the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) in the 200m Freestyle of 1:57.25; Catterson holds the Irish record at 1:59.75. Darragh Greene returns to the pool for the 50m Breaststroke heats.

Daily reports will issue from Doha.

Results Day 2

Women 100m Backstroke                            Maria Godden                   H 1:01.99 (20^th)

Men 100m Backstroke                                 Conor Ferguson                H 53.95 (11^th)     SF 53.90 (13^th)

Women 100m Breaststroke                         Mona McSharry                H 1:06.49 (3^rd)   SF 1:06.11 (2^nd)

Schedule – Day 3 Heats

Men 50m Breaststroke                                  Darragh Greene

Women 200m Freestyle                                Victoria Catterson

Men 800m Freestyle                                      Daniel Wiffen

Women 100m Breaststroke Final                   Mona McSharry

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