Danielle Hill starred on the second day of the McCullagh International in Bangor with a new Irish Record in the 50m Butterfly. The Larne swimmer added 50m Butterfly and 50m Freestyle golds to 50m Backstroke gold won on Thursday.
The 25-year-old, who will be competing for a place on Team Ireland for the Paris Olympic Games at the Irish Olympic Trials in May, won the race in 26.45, knocking .17 of a second off Mona McSharry’s 2019 record of 26.62. Templeogue’s Ellen Walshe won silver in 26.77.
Earlier in the evening, Hill , who now holds five individual Irish Records (50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m and 100m Backstroke, and 50m Butterfly) was just .05 off her 50m Freestyle Irish Record of 25.15, clocking 25.20 for gold. In second place Ards’ Grace Davison was under the European Junior Championships Consideration time of 26.35 in 26.23.
Ellen Walshe, who achieved the Olympic Qualification Time (OQT) in the 200m Individual Medley at the 2023 World Championships, won the Final of the event tonight in 2:12.90. In second place, Grace Davison secured her second European Junior Championships consideration time of the day in 2:17.08. UCD’s Jena MacDougald won bronze in 2:19.79.
Adding to two silver medals won on Thursday, National Centre Limerick’s Maria Godden claimed gold in the Women’s 200m Backstroke in 2:14.12. Normally a freestyle specialist, National Centre Dublin’s Victoria Catterson was second in 2:15.14, while Ballina Dolphins Annabelle Wilkinson was third in 2:17.78.
Kingdom’s Lily Mary Doyle won today’s distance race, claiming gold in the Women’s 800m Freestyle. Doyle touched in 9:08.17 just ahead of Templeogue’s Holly McInerney (9:09.43) and National Centre Limerick’s Ella Carroll (9:16.21). Carroll and 15-year-old Abby Cunningham achieved the criteria to be considered for an invitation to the European Aquatics Junior Open Water Championships in Austria in July.
In today’s age group finals, Aer Lingus’ Julia Dziedzic won the girls gold in 2:26.18. Dziedzic later went on to win 200m Individual Medley gold in 2:35.30. Trojan’s Georgia May Agnew topped the podium in the girls 50m Freestyle in 28.55.
Earlier today Ards claimed a second relay gold in the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle. Zophia Quigley, Grace Davison, Megan Diamond, and Victoria Catterson combined for a time of 8:47.25 ahead of New Ross (8:57.04) and Templeogue (9:01.41).
In the Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay, Larne’s Danielle Hill, Morgan Berryman, Thomas Leggett, and Sophie Doran topped the podium in 4:08.38, with Tallaght claiming silver in 4:15.51 and Terenure bronze in 4:16.20.
Competition continues through Sunday.
