Fairweather wins stunning 800 freestyle final to qualify for World Champs
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PHOTOSPORT
Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded World Championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m Freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland.
Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year.
The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the World Champs qualification time of 8:34.62s.
Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas.
"It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said.
"Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time."
North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m Freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July.
Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final.
Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley.
In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time.
In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time.
In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time.
Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly.
More than 350 athletes are competing at the Championships.
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