Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen through to 1500m final at World Championships

Fourth in the 800m final in which he set a European record, the Irish swimmer was the second fastest qualifier finishing second behind USA’s Bobby Finke in his 1500m heat in a time of 14:43.50. The 22-year-old has ambitions of swimming a world record time in tomorrow’s final.

“I think I’m still going with my aspirations of hitting that world record (14:31.01). I need to get out now, get some recovery done for tomorrow night and have a good final. It hurt a little, but I’m holding back still, so still that bit left.”

Wiffen lead for much of the race with Finke by his side. Finke took over the lead at the 1000m mark and the pair were separated in the end by only .44 with the American winning in 14:43.06.

The pair secured the centre lines for the final with the two fastest preliminary times. 800m Freestyle World Champion Ahmed Hafnaoui (Tunisia) was the next fastest qualifier, winning the third heat in 14:49.53.

”It was great, my strategy was to go in and break up the field and I did that quite well and then after about 500m sit back on a good pace that would get me through to the final, so I did that, it was good, a good race as well there with the American Bobby Finke, but it was alright, it was fun,” added Wiffen.

Sligo’s Mona McSharry bowed out of the 50m Breaststroke after finishing fifth in the semi-final in 30.54. She was marginally slower than in her heat (30.45) but finished a credible 11th overall in one of her non-specialist events.

Overall it has been an excellent championships for the 22-year. She reached three semi-finals, achieved the Olympic qualification time, and finished fifth in the final of the 100m Breaststroke.

Contesting his first ever World Championship semi-final Conor Ferguson (23) finished sixth in 25.09 to be ranked 13th overall.