McSharry smashes national record in 200m breaststroke

Mona McSharry has taken two seconds off her Irish record in the 200m breaststroke as she continues her build-up to the Olympics.

The Sligo swimmer clocked a time of 2:22.49 at the Mel Zajac International in Vancouver, a full two seconds quicker than her previous national record of 2:24.50, set in Glasgow last year.

She followed that up with a time 2:22.69 in the final, winning comfortably from Sophie Angus and Alexanne Lepage in second and third respectively.

The times place McSharry inside the Olympic Qualification Standard for the 200m breaststroke and with the qualification window still open, the Sligo woman could add the event to her itinerary in the French capital.

McSharry has already qualified for Paris in the 100m breaststroke, the event in which she reached the final in Tokyo three years ago.

Representing the University of Tennessee at the Vancouver meet last night, McSharry also came home first in the 100m breaststroke overnight.

Meanwhile, Roscommon’s Cormac Rynn was the only Irish swimmer in action this morning, with the European Aquatics Championships in Belgrade wrapping up today.

In the 400m freestyle, the Irish junior record holder finished sixth in his heat in a time of 4:01.51 to conclude his first international event.

Rynn said: “It’s been fantastic, swimming in the heats with all the big lads, it’s something I never thought I’d be doing, it’s been a phenomenal experience. It fills me with pride, it’s such a great nation to be representing and I’m very proud of myself for getting where I am today.”

There are two more Irish swimmers in action this evening, with Nathan Wiffen and Shane Ryan going in the final of the 1500m freestyle and the 50m freestyle respectively.