Erika Fairweather breaks another swimming record

Erika Fairweather.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Dunedin swimmer Erika Fairweather has broken her national record in the 400-metre freestyle to become the 6th fastest woman ever over the distance.

The 19-year-old recorded a time of 4:00.62s at the national championships in Auckand, moving her to 6th on the international all-time list.

“I was really confident that I could break that 4-minute mark but halfway through the race I just realised that today wasn’t going to be that day,” Fairweather said.

“I didn’t quite nail that first 200m today so I’ll work on that but it’s a matter of when, not if, I’ll go under that 4-minute mark.”

Eve Thomas was second to also qualify for world championships with Caitlin Deans third.

Fairweather’s success follows her win in the 200m freestyle earlier in the programme with the fourth fastest time in the world this year.

Meanwhile Fairweather’s Neputune club training partner Zac Reid locked in a world championship spot with victory in the men’s 400.

The 23-year-old powered home over the last 100m to take the win in a time of 3:47.87s.

Reid had missed out on qualification in the 800m and was ecstatic on seeing he had qualified in the 400m, slapping the water in celebration before his good mate Lewis Clareburt swam over to give him a hug.

“That was fantastic, I was so emotional,” Reid said.

“It’s been a long journey to get back to this point after surgery so I’m just so happy to make it to worlds.”

Reid had hip surgery after representing New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympic Games. This is the first time he has qualified for the New Zealand team since then.

Clareburt was second and Louis Clark third.

In the 400m freestyle women’s multi class, Gaby Smith qualified for the World Para Swimming Championships with a time of 4:58.44s.

The closest swim of the meet then came in the men’s 100m fly with Clareburt beating Cameron Gray by one-hundredth of a second in an epic battle.