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.”

Murphy now turns her attentions to the remainder of the week. “I’ve got the 800m, the 400m individual medley and we have the 4x200m relay so there’s lots of events to come. Everyone is really excited about the relay.

Meanwhile, junior swimmer Sycerika McMahon set a new Irish Junior record in the 100m breaststroke (1:09.91).

She said: “I got a personal best so I’m really pleased with that. I was trying to go out fast because if I get out fast usually I can maintain it so that was my aim.”

McMahon had a full programme of races at the European Juniors earlier this month and still has the 4x200m freestyle relay here on Thursday and the 50m breaststroke on Saturday.

Melanie Nocher finished her heat of the 100m backstroke in 1:03.43, over a second outside her personal best but is looking ahead to her other events this week – the 200m freestyle today, the 4x200m freestyle relay (Thursday) and the 200m backstroke (Friday). Barry Murphy (50m breaststroke) is Ireland’s other competitor today.