McDonald and Firth advance to Finals on Day 1 of Paralympic Swimming World Championships in Canada

Darragh McDonald and Bethany Firth will both be in Finals action on the first day of competition at the Paralympic Swimming World Championships in Montreal, Canada.
McDonald will be first up in the Final of the 400m Freestyle S6; an event he won Gold in at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The 19 year old has the fastest time going into the race of 4:55.56, a personal best from the Games that should he swim again, he could retain the title.
Bethany Firth swam a new personal best in the heats of the 200m Freestyle S14, touching first in heat 2 in 2:13.78 ahead of London 2012 silver medallist Taylor Corry of Australia in 2:15.03. The Gold medallist in the event from London last September Jessica Jane Applegate of Great Britain was the fastest qualifier in 2:11.71.
Ellen Keane opened her championship account with a 9th place finish overall in the 100m Freestyle S9 clocking a time of 1:08.57 which was just off her personal best. Keane was pleased with the performance saying "I feel really happy, I'm glad I had an event I don't normally do before my main strokes to get used to the pool and get used to racing, I'm looking forward to my main events now".
A further Press Release will issue following tonight's Final session.

Results: Day 1 Heats
Darragh McDonald 400m Freestyle S6 - No Heat - Straight to Final
Ellen Keane 100m Freestyle S9 1:08.57 (9th)
Bethany Firth 200m Freestyle S14 2:13.78 (2nd)

Day 1 Finals
Darragh McDonald 400m Freestyle S6 10pm
Bethany Firth 200m Freestyle S14 1.30am