29th July 2009

Ireland's Ryan Harrison and Barry Murphy both recorded new Irish Senior Records on Wednesday, 29th July in the men's 100m freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Rome. Murphy, who raced in the heat ahead of Ryan first lowered the previous Irish record mark (49.98) to 49.76. Then Harrison, swimming in the following heat subsequently bettered Murphy's time to finish in 49.49 - and a new Irish Senior record. 

Earlier in the competition, Murphy made history when he became the first Irish man ever to break the 50 second barrier for the 100m freestyle. He achieved this during the lead of leg of the Irish men's 4x100m freestyle team relay. Murphy and Harrison, University of Tennessee teamates will make up part of the Irish men's 4x100m medley team relay this Sunday - Murphy swimming the breaststroke leg and Harrison on freestyle.

"That felt awesome - my first 50m was good then I came back really strong on the 2nd 50m. It feels great to go under 50 [seconds] too and it's looking good now for the medley relay on Sunday," said a delighted Harrison after the race.
Also in top form on Wednesday was Wexford's Grainne Murphy in the 200m butterfly, clocking a time of 2.13.66, lowering her own Irish Junior record set earlier this year - and finishing in 29th place overall.

Dubliner Aisling Cooney was in action in the 50m backstroke and touched the wall in 29.69 - just nine hundredths of a second outside of her Irish record mark (29.60).

Irish swimmers in action on Thursday 30th July are Fiona Doyle and Clare Dawson (100m freestyle), Karl Burdis (200m backstroke), Andrew Bree (200m breaststroke) and the women's 4x200m freestyle team relay.

Issued on behalf of Swim Ireland, whose High Performance Programme is supported and funded by the Irish Sports Council.