John Shortt & Jack Kelly Take Down Irish Records In Bangor
John Shortt and Jack Kelly each took down Irish records on the second night of the Irish Open Championships and Commonwealth Games Trials in Bangor.
The duo set new Irish and Championship records and joined several other swimmers in securing twenty-four consideration times across the European Aquatics Championships, Commonwealth Games, European Para Swimming Championships and European Aquatics Junior Championships this summer.
Shortt lowered his Irish 100 back record to 53.17, taking 0.20 from the standard of 53.37 set at last month’s Giant Open in Paris.
It was also a championship record for Shortt who was joined on the podium by National Centre Limerick team-mates Paddy Johnston (55.57) and Neddie Irwin (56.54).
Shortt had mixed feelings, saying: “I’m going to have to check the splits and see what I was, but yeah really good race. Kind of a bit disappointed, wanted to be 52 but you can’t have it all your own way – can’t be too angry at a 53 low.”
Kelly Sets 50 Breast Mark After Bob Bowman Stint
Kelly made a statement on his championship debut with an Irish record in the 50 breast.
The 23‑year‑old, who hails from Yonkers, New York and has an Irish mother from Cork, has committed to representing Ireland internationally.
Kelly broke Darragh Greene’s 2019 Irish record of 26.94 and bettered the Championship mark of 26.97 he set in the morning heats, touching in 26.84 to dip under the European Aquatics Championships consideration time.
Greene (Longford) was second in 27.62 and Eoin Corby (National Centre Limerick) third in 27.81 with both swimmers under the European Aquatics Championships consideration time.
Kelly – who has been working with Bob Bowman in Texas – said of representing Ireland: “I’m really honoured, just to honour my heritage, and I think it’s a really cool opportunity to get some international races under my belt, and for me this will be the first one so I’m kind of excited to see how I do.”
- Rosalie Phelan set a 50 fly championship record of 26.62
- Ellen Walshe won her second title in as many days with a dominant 4:39.38 victory in the 400IM
- Olympic 100 breast bronze medallist Mona McSharry won 50 in 30.43
- Lottie Cullen took the women’s 100 back in 1:00.35 ahead of Grace Davison (1:00.61)
- Liam Custer won gold in the men’s 400IM in 4:23.14
- James Ward took the 50 fly in 24.17
Four Para swimmers were also under qualification times today for the European Para Swimming Championships in Turkey in September. Ellie Lynch (1:21.49) and Luke O’Donoghue (1:09.17) both added their names to the list of qualifiers in the 100m backstroke joining previously qualified Barry McClements (1:04.51 100m backstroke) and Dearbhaile Brady (35.90 50m butterfly).
