Murphy misses out on final spot in Shanghai

GRÁINNE MURPHY failed to qualify for the 1500m freestyle final at the World Long Course Swimming Championships in Shanghai yesterday despite winning her heat by eight seconds.

The 18 year-old’s time of 16:14.81 left her 10th overall — with the top eight advancing to the final. Denmark’s Lotte Friis was fastest qualifier in 16:00.47.

Murphy’s coach Ronald Claes said: “She had a great swim, the unfortunate thing was she had to swim all by herself. Those girls in the two heats following Gráinne’s heat saw her time and they just raced each other. Gráinne didn’t have that type of challenge so that was a big disadvantage for someone who likes a race.”