Ireland’s Mona McSharry claimed a silver medal in the 100m breast stroke on the opening night of racing at the Sette Colli meet at the Foro Italico in Rome.
McSharry is part of a 24-strong Irish team using the prestigious Italian meet as final preparation ahead of this summer’s major championships: the Commonwealth Games in July and the European Championships in August.
The Olympic bronze medallist progressed as top seed from the morning heats in 1:06.53 and went quicker in the final, touching in 1:06.30 to secure her first medal of the meet, just behind Italy’s Benedetta Pilato (1:05.85).
Tom Fannon missed the podium by just five hundredths of a second in the men’s 50m freestyle final, finishing fourth in a season’s best time of 21.95.
There was also ‘A’ final action for Danielle Hill in the 50m back stroke, where she placed eighth in 28.72.
In Friday’s ‘B’ finals, John Shortt was first home in the 50m back stroke, touching in 25.23 seconds. In the women’s equivalent, Lottie Cullen secured second place in 29.07.
There were further runner-up finishes for Ellen Walshe in the 200m freestyle (1:59.18), Daniel Wiffen in the 400m freestyle (3:50.52), and Ellie McCartney in the 100m breast stroke (1:08.19).
Competition continues on Saturday and Sunday.