Ellie McCartney, a 20-year-old swimmer from Enniskillen, delivered a career-defining performance in the 200m breaststroke semi-finals, securing her place at the World Championships in Singapore this July. McCartney clocked an impressive time of 2:24.35, not only setting a new personal best but also breaking the championship record and comfortably surpassing the 'A' qualifying time of 2:25.91.

McCartney's journey to this milestone has been marked by consistent excellence. She first showcased her potential at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad & Tobago, where she clinched two gold medals and a bronze. Later that summer, she added another bronze to her collection at the European Junior Championships.

In a thrilling 100m breaststroke final, McCartney narrowly missed out on victory, finishing just one-tenth of a second behind Olympic bronze medallist Mona McSharry. Reflecting on her recent success, McCartney said, 'I'm so excited to get that 'A' time on my first chance in a World Championship trials. I've really been aiming for that time. Me and my coach, since the start of this year we knew it was doable, but I never thought I'd be that far under it.'

McCartney's achievements extend beyond the World Championships. She has also secured qualification times for the European under-23s and the World University Games, presenting her with a busy summer schedule. She will need to carefully plan her participation, likely choosing between the first two events.

Joining McCartney in representing Ireland at the World Championships are Ulster swimmers Daniel Wiffen and Danielle Hill, alongside Mona McSharry, Ellen Walshe, Tom Fannon, and John Shortt. McCartney expressed her admiration for her peers, stating, 'It's been years since I've been able to race Mona and to be closer, I've never had that chance before and racing her is always such a privilege. Seeing the likes of Jack McMillan, Daniel, Danielle, and Mona all coming from similar routes, it's inspiring. It's what makes me want to be better.'

In other notable performances, double Olympian Ellen Walshe made history by becoming the first Irishwoman to swim under 1:59 in the 200m freestyle, setting a new Irish record of 1:58.88 in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Lottie Cullen of National Centre Ulster claimed the 200m backstroke title, adding to her 100m gold from the previous day. Daniel and Nathan Wiffen also made their mark, leading the qualifiers for the 1500m Freestyle final.