Turner Through To 50m Freestyle Final At Paralympic Swimming World Championships

Ireland's Nicole Turner continued her successful debut at the Paralympic Swimming World Championships by qualifying for her fourth final in as many days. The thirteen year old, from Portarlington in County Laois swam another lifetime best in her heat this morning; 36.81, to place fourth and progress to tonight's final sixth fastest. This morning's time was just short of two seconds better than her previous best set at the Irish National Championships earlier this year.

Three more of the Irish team were racing this morning but did not manage to advance to tonight's finals. Dublin teenager Ailbhe Kelly made her World Championship debut in the S8 Women's 100m Freestyle and will be pleased to have produced a lifetime best of 1:20.44 to place seventh in her heat, and twelfth overall. She will contest her main event; the 100m Backstroke on Saturday.

London and Beijing Paralympians Ellen Keane and Darragh Mc Donald also raced in the heats of their respective 50m Freestyle events this morning. Both will be pleased with season's best swims in what is not their main event. Darragh, who won 400m Freestyle bronze on the opening day finished fifth in his heat in 34.01; ninth overall. Ellen placed eighth in her heat in 31.03; fifteenth overall.

Darragh will race in his final event at these Championships on Sunday; the 100m Freestyle, while Ellen will be looking forward to second best event; the 100m Butterfly tomorrow. Jonathan McGivern will make his first appearance at these Championships tomorrow in his leading event; the 400m Freestyle, while James Scully will also be back in action.

These Championships are a key milestone on the road to Rio 2016 Paralympic Games qualification. Swimmers who win gold and silver in their events earn automatic qualification slots for their country. For the others the highest possible finish is vital as the remaining slots are allocated based on world rankings in 2016.