Wiffen wins third gold but misses out on record
Daniel Wiffen's won his third gold medal of the week at the Irish Open Swimming Championships in the 1500m freestyle but missed out on a new world record.The Olympic gold medallist predicted he would set a new world mark at the National Aquatic Centre this week. Wiffen's winning time of 14:42.71 was well outside of Bobby Finke's world record of 14:30.67 set while winning gold in Paris last summer, although was considerably closer to Florian Wellbrock's 14:38.27, the quickest time in the world this year set in Sweden on Sunday. Wiffen won by more than 32 seconds ahead of his twin brother Nathan, who finished in 15:15.57, with Limerick's Denis O'Brien coming third with a time of 15:22.18.
Earlier in the championships Wiffen had set the quickest mark in the world this year in the 800m freestyle and claimed victory in the 400m freestyle.The times in each were enough to secure his place in all three events at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore in July where he is the defending champion in the 800m and 1500m freestyle.Wiffen described his week's work as "job done" and stated his aim is to "bring it into Singapore" where he is targeting three golds."Compared to the rest of the week, that's probably the best time out of them all in my book," he said of his final race. "The 1500m is always a hard event to do when you're coming back from such a long break because you need that training base to basically have that back end endurance.'Wiffen will immediately head back into training, in Belgium next week and then Flagstaff in Arizona, as he prepares for all three disciplines in Singapore, although there is one event he is looking forward to more than the others.'The 1500 is my most important race," he added.'I've won the 800 at the Olympics, Worlds and Europeans and set the world short course record. 'The 1500 has been lacking for me in terms of the big meets, I've got a bronze and I've got a world championship gold but I want to push it on.'I really want that world record, it's been my childhood dream to have that world record and I'm going to keep pushing until I get it."
Irish titles for Hill, McCartney and Catterson
On the final day of competition at the Irish Championships there were two more national titles for Larne's Danielle Hill.The European champion won both the 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke, shorter distances which are now included in the Olympic programme for Los Angeles 2028.Ellie McCartney also rounded off her superb week with victory in the 200m breaststroke.Having clinched the consideration time for the worlds in the semi-finals, the Enniskillen swimmer recorded a time of 2:25.01, just outside of her new personal best of 2:24.35.Victoria Catterson clocked 2:00.99 to win the 200m freestyle final as she held on to beat fellow Paris Olympian Grace Davison.Fresh off taking Catterson's 200m freestyle national record on Tuesday, Ellen Walshe returned to the blocks for the final morning of heats. The Templeogue swimmer showed no sign of slowing up and clocked a time of 4:41.86 in the 400m individual medley. At the end of the championships Daniel Wiffen, Danielle Hill, Ellie McCartney, Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe, Tom Fannon and Jack Shortt all recorded the times required for the World Swimming Championships this summer.
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