Daniel Wiffen, the reigning Olympic 800m freestyle champion and short-course world record holder, eased his way into Sunday's final of the event at the Irish Open Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.
Wiffen has stated his aim to have a crack at a world record in either the 400m, 800m or the 1500m freestyle events at the five-day meet, which also serves as a qualifying event for the World Championships in Singapore.
Wiffen's twin brother Nathan will be top seed for Sunday's final after winning his heat in eight minutes 2.00 seconds.
The world record stands at 7:32.12, set by China’s Zhang Lin at the 2009 World Championships in Rome in the days of the now-banned one-piece shiny swimsuits.
The final of the men’s 800m will be off the blocks at 6pm on Sunday evening.
Ellen Walshe set championship records in both the women's 200m individual medley and 200m butterfly.
The Olympic finalist swam the events in 2:11.14 and 2:08.66 respectively, with her time in the 200m individual medley ensuring her qualification for the Worlds in July.
The time was also just a shade outside the Templeogue swimmer's national record of 2:10.92 and having set the time required in two events for the Worlds, Walshe then withdrew from the evening semi-finals.
Grace Davidson was the fastest in Walshe’s absence in the semi-finals in 2.15.82, which qualified the 18-year-old for the Worlds, while Alana Burns Atkin was the fastest into the final of the 200 butterfly in 2:18.05.
Two-time Olympian Danielle Hill is the top seed for the women's 100m backstroke final after winning her semi-final in 1:00.67.
John Shortt set the fastest time in the men’s 100 backstroke semi-finals in 53.90, just outside Shane Ryan’s Irish record, but enough for him to qualify for the Worlds.
Evan Bailey was fastest into the men’s 200 freestyle final in 1:47.36.
The heats on day two are off at 9.30am at the NAC, with the finals off the blocks from 5pm on Sunday.
