Mona McSharry books spot in 100m breaststroke semis at World Championships

Mona McSharry is safely through to the 100m breaststroke semi-finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

World medal hope McSharry was second her heat at the Aspire Dome.

The Marlin’s Swimming Club, Ballyshannon graduate will go in her semi-final later today.

Qianting Tang, the 19-year-old from China, won the heat - the fifth of six - in 1:06.16 having held off the strong advances of McSharry, in lane four, after the turn.

McSharry, who hails from Grange, finished in 1:06.49 with their’s the quickest of the heats.

Overall, McSharry is through as the third fastest, behind Tang and Tes Schouten, the Dutch swimmer who won her heat in 1:06.46.

Ruta Meilutyte, the Lithuanian who won two World golds last year, has not qualified and is only a first reserve coming out of the heats.

Last year, McSharry was only 0.13 seconds off a medal at the 2023 edition in  Fukuoka, Japan - where she swam a 1:06.07 final after setting a new Irish record of 1:05.55 in her heat.

Her 1:05.55 heat not only booked her spot in a semi-final, but it also punched her tickets for the Olympic Games in Paris later the year. At the last edition of the Olympics, McSharry was in the final of the 100m breaststroke,

McSharry will also compete in the 50m and 200m breaststroke events this week.