Mona McSharry makes a major impression in heats at World Aquatics Championships
An Olympic bronze medallist in the event, McSharry hit the wall in one minute 5.99 seconds as she recorded her sixth fatest time ever.
The Sligo native was the only swimmer under the 66-second mark, with Germany's Anna Elendt next best in 1:06.01.
Speaking after the race McSharry said: "I'm definitely feeling good. That race kind of hurt and I think, talking to Ellen (Walshe) a little bit yesterday, it's kind of just getting the first one out of the way.
"Just trying to push through that, and there was a second I was like, 'I don't know if I'm going to be in the semi'. I was like, no, you just got to go. And I'm excited to see that, another close finish, but again on my side.
"So I'm just making sure that I'm pushing to the end and, hopefully, we can get ourselves into the final now tonight."
On coming into the Worlds as an Olympic medallist, she said: "I think the hardest part coming in with that kind of background is just trying not to put myself into a place where I feel like I have to be on the podium, that I have to be medalling, because I have experienced that before.
"I put that pressure on myself before and it doesn't help."
Meanwhile, Evan Bailey produced the display of his life on his on his World Championships debut, with the National Centre Limerick swimmer equalling Jack McMillan's 200m freestyle Irish record of 1:46.66 to progress to the semi-finals.
It was Bailey's first time under 1:47:00, having come into the meet with a best time of 1:47.04 from the Irish Open in April.
The New Ross man finished seventh in his heat and was 15th fastest overall.
A beaming Bailey said afterwards: "I'm absolutely delighted. I've had a lot of ups and downs this season. My training has been going really well and I've just been waiting for that one swim to happen.
"I'm absolutely delighted with it and it was there. I can't thank the people around me or my team-mates anymore, they've done probably more of the work than I have to help get me here, but the training group right now we have is unbelievable and all the boys push each other."
Danielle Hill opened her championships in the 100m backstroke and touched the wall in 1:00.79 to finish fifth in her heat and 18th overall, meaning the Larne swimmer missed out on a place in the semi-finals.
John Shortt saw his qualification bid in the 100m backstroke end in the heats as he clocked 54.26 to finish ninth.
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