Walshe shatters Irish record on World stage

TEMPLEOGUE’S Ellen Walshe has broken the 27-year-old Irish 400m Individual Medley record following a tremendous performance in the heats of the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Currently based at the University of Tennessee, she came home first in the penultimate heat, clocking a time of 4:30.78 to emerge the fourth fastest qualifier for the final, which takes place later today at 2.49pm (Irish time).

Walshe made the cut for last summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, and served up an exceptionally composed performance then that saw her win her 100m Butterfly heat in a time of 59.35 that was just outside her lifetime best of 59.32.

And her performance today saw her shave more than six seconds off the national 400m IM best that had been set by Michelle Smith back in 1994.

Meanwhile Tallaght SC and National Centre swimmer Brendan Hyland was part of the Ireland Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay team that also set a new Irish record.

The Knocklyon man combined with Calum Bain, Jack McMillan and Jordan Sloan to help card a new national best time of 3:12.94 as they came home ninth in their heat, missing out on the final by just .2 of a second.