Mona McSharry advances to World 200m breaststroke final

Mona McSharry sealed a place in the women's 200m breaststroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha.

In the first of Thursday's semi-finals, McSharry was third in her semi and seventh in the overall standings of those advancing to Friday's final.

Marlins Swimming Club graduate McSharry didn't have the swiftest of starts and was fifth at the 100m marker.

At the final turn, after 150m, McSharry was up to fourth and moved third over the final length of the Aspire Dome pool.

McSharry finished in 2:25.13 for third behind Sydney Pickrem from Canada, who won the semi in 2:23.77 with Alina Zmushka of Belarus – who led much of the way – second in 2:24.14.

The second semi was much faster and won by Tes Schouten from Netherlands, who touched home in 2:21.50 with USA's Kate Douglass, who won five medals next back in 2:23.17

In the morning heats, McSharry came back in 2:24.83, just .32 of a second off her Irish record of 2:24.50. McSharry won her heat and had been the second fastest of those to make it into the semi-finals.

Having been agonisingly close - half-a-second - from a medal in the 100m breaststroke final on Tuesday, McSharry returned to the water with the bit between her teeth.
“I’m really happy,” said McSharry after her heat. “That’s definitely my best morning swim ever and my second best time so it makes me really excited.
“The 200m is a tough one to put together and I’m happy that I was able to step up this morning and put a good race together.
“I think maybe the frustration from the 100m pushed me over the hurdle of wanting to get over the 200m hurting and swim fast.”
The 200m breaststroke final takes place on Friday afternoon.