Meegan sets new Irish 400m Freestyle Record in Kazan and 4 Juniors through to semi-finals in Poznan

Andrew Meegan started Ireland's swimming campaign at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia, with a new Irish Senior Record in the heats of the 400m Freestyle where he placed 11th overall. Meegan's time of 3:54.11 knocked 1.6 seconds off the previous record held by Ryan Harrison since 2009. Meegan will be back in action tomorrow, this time in his favoured 1500m Freestyle event, in which he is also the current Irish Record holder.

Fiona Doyle will make her first World University Games appearance tomorrow in the heats of the 100m Breaststroke. Fiona made the World Championships FINA A time in this event at Irish Nationals in April, breaking the Irish Senior Record in the process.

At the European Junior Swimming Championships in Poznan, Poland, all ten swimmers were in action in the morning heats. Lydia Kehoe and Dearbhail McNamaara (34.94) were first up in the 50m Breaststroke with Kehoe swimming a personal best time of 35.86, the New Ross swimmer then went on to swim the 400m Individual Medley in 5:05.55 placing 12th overall.

Brendan Gibbons (4:05.06) and David O'Sullivan (26.30) both prepared for their main events tomorrow with heat swims in the 400m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly. Gibbons will swim the 1500m Freestyle tomorrow with O'Sullivan racing in the 200m Butterfly.

Ireland had three girls competing in the 200m Butterfly heats, although just off their best times Sarah Kelly (2:19.75) and Clodagh Flood (2:20.11) both did enough to make this afternoon's semi-finals. Bangor's Gemma Kane swam a personal best of 2:22.60 in the event and was unlucky not to make the semi-finals due to a two swimmer per nation rule for semi-finals.

Brian O'Sullivan, who competes at his second European Junior Championships, is also through to an afternoon semi-final. The European Youth Olympics medallist swam his 100m Backstroke heat in 57.65 to secure a place in the last 20. Another backstroke specialist, Laoise Fleming will also contest a semi-final, following her impressive debut swim at European level of 2:21.16.

Bangor's Mary Kate McDowell was the last of the Irish to compete in the morning heats, her time of 9:26.54 in the 800m Freestyle was off her best but she has the 200m and 400m Freestyle events still to come.