Fairweather & Deans on the Podium in Westmont
- dale493
- 7 hours ago
- 7 min read
Competition Wrap – 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Stop Two
Nine of our New Zealand swimmers competed at the second stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup over the weekend. The racing was held in Westmont, Illinois (USA), and the team won a total of three medals and two New Zealand records across the weekend.
Erika Fairweather (North Shore) continued her fine form from the previous weekend, bagging a big New Zealand record and adding two medals to her growing collection from recent years.
Fairweather swam the 400m freestyle on the opening day in Westmont, with the 21-year-old going faster than the previous weekend to win the silver medal for the second consecutive week. Her time (3:57.99) was the fourth fastest time of her career. Lani Pallister (Australia – 3:52.42) swam the fastest time in World Cup history to take the gold, with Bella Sims (3:58.29) taking the bronze.
Fairweather was pleased with her swim in the final.
“It was good. It was nice to see an improvement from last week. There is definitely still more in the tank which is exciting with one stop left.”
Fairweather was back in action in the 200m freestyle on day two. The final was fast, with Fairweather smashing her New Zealand record by 0.41 seconds to touch fourth. Olympic Champion Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia – 1:49.77) blitzed the field to break the World Record, with Pallister (1:52.06) and Anna Peplowski (USA – 1:52.54) on the podium in a tight finish for the minor placings.
Fairweather was excited to set a new mark.
“I think the whole field lifted this week and it’s exciting to be a part of it. I think it was a good race across the board and happy to come away with a New Zealand record.”
Fairweather and Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) both raced the longest event of the stop, the 1500m freestyle, on the final day of competition. Both swam personal bests, with Fairweather dropping 19 seconds off her previous best to claim the silver medal (15:30.22). Deans also dropped a big chunk off her best, taking 7 seconds off her previous best to win the bronze medal (15:42.18). Pallister (15:13.83) took the gold.
Cameron Gray (United) got off to a flying start on day one, breaking the New Zealand record in the 50m freestyle. He took 0.05 seconds off the previous mark that he set at the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Melbourne. The time (21.45) saw him narrowly missed out on the final to place 11th overall.
Gray was thrilled to set a new personal best.
“It’s pretty cool to touch up on that record that Andy and I set three years ago in a pretty fast field. Just missed out on the final but pretty happy to get amongst it.”
We have provided a brief overview of other finalists in each of the days below. You can find all the results from our New Zealand swimmers at the bottom of this article.
Stop three gets underway in a few days’ time, racing in Toronto, Canada, from 23 – 25 October.
Day One Highlights
In the same 400m freestyle fastest timed final that Fairweather secured silver, Deans achieved the second-best time of her career (4:00.64) to come sixth overall.
Brearna Crawford (Waitakere) swam two personal bests in the same day as she qualified for the final of the 200m breaststroke and finished eighth overall. Her time in the final was just 0.12 seconds outside the New Zealand record.
Crawford was elated with her performance in the longest of the breaststroke discipline.
“I’m pretty happy with the double PB. I sort of went out with no expectations and just wanted to go and have fun and swim my own race so I was really happy to be able to do that in such a stacked field like that. I’m always wanting to improve and I’m excited to use this as a good springboard for next season, so onwards and upwards from here.”
Cameron Gray also broke the 50m freestyle New Zealand record in the heats.
Day Two Highlights
In addition to Fairweather’s New Zealand record in the 200m freestyle, Gray qualified for the 50m backstroke final. The 22-year-old touched eighth in the final (23.82).
Day Three Highlights
In addition to the medals Fairweather and Deans won in the 1500m freestyle, Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) made the final in the 100m butterfly. Ouwehand (58.95) touched eighth in the final.
Swimmer Entries & Results
Lewis Clareburt (Club 37) – Aquablack #257
Stop One – Carmel
400m freestyle (result: 3:41.65 – 5th overall – PB)
400m individual medley (result: 4:03.66 – 4th overall, NZ Record & PB)
200m butterfly (result: 1:53.05 in final – 5th overall, 1:53.43 in heat)
200m backstroke (result: 1:55.19 – 9th overall – PB)
Brearna Crawford (Waitakere)
Stop One – Carmel
50m breaststroke (result: 31.06 – 13th overall)
100m breaststroke (result: 1:07.66 – 18th overall)
200m breaststroke (result: 2:25.08 – 15th overall)
Stop Two – Westmont
50m breaststroke (result: 30.95 – 10th overall)
100m breaststroke (result: 1:06.65 – 12th overall)
200m breaststroke (result: 2:23.27 in final – 8th overall – PB, 2:23.97 in heat – PB)
Caitlin Deans (Neptune / Swim Dunedin) – Aquablack #276
Stop One – Carmel
200m freestyle (result: 1:57.10 – 12th overall)
400m freestyle (result: 4:00.93 – bronze)
800m freestyle (result: 8:13.37 – bronze)
Stop Two – Westmont
400m freestyle (result: 1:56.11 – 12th overall)
200m freestyle (result: 4:00.64 – 6th overall)
1500m freestyle (result: 15:42.18 – bronze – PB)
Stop Three – Toronto
400m freestyle
200m freestyle
800m freestyle
Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) – Aquablack #265
Stop One – Carmel
50m freestyle (result: 24.11 in final, 24.27 in heat – 6th overall – 2 x NZ Record & 2 x PB)
100m freestyle (result: 53.30 – 9th overall)
200m freestyle (result: 1:56.00 – 11th overall – PB)
Stop Two – Westmont
50m freestyle (result: 24.56 – 11th overall)
100m freestyle (result: 53.41 – 11th overall)
200m freestyle (result: 1:57.10 – 14th overall)
Erika Fairweather (North Shore) – Aquablack #266
Stop One – Carmel
200m freestyle (result: 1:53.33 in final – 4th overall, 1:54.29 in heat)
400m freestyle (result: 3:58.83 – silver)
800m freestyle (result: 8:12.57 – silver)
Stop Two – Westmont
200m freestyle (result: 1:52.66 in final – 4th overall – NZ record & PB, 1:53.72 in heat)
400m freestyle (result: 3:57.99 – silver)
1500m freestyle (result: 15:30.22 – silver – PB)
Stop Three – Toronto
400m freestyle
200m freestyle
800m freestyle
Isabelle Gibson (Club 37)
Stop One – Carmel
50m backstroke (result: 28.21 – 21st overall)
100m backstroke (result: 1:00.49 – 20th overall)
200m backstroke (result: 2:11.25 – 13th overall)
Stop Two – Westmont
50m backstroke (result: 28.35 – 25th overall)
100m backstroke (result: 1:00.66 – 20th overall)
200m backstroke (result: 2:13.71 – 23rd overall)
Stop Three – Toronto
50m backstroke
100m backstroke
200m backstroke
Cameron Gray (United) – Aquablack #277
Stop One – Carmel
50m freestyle (result: 21.53 – 10th overall)
100m freestyle (result: 47.61 – 21st overall – PB)
200m freestyle (result: 1:45.61 – 19th overall)
50m backstroke (result: 23.39 in final – 7th overall – PB, 23.72 in heat)
50m butterfly (result: 23.14 – 13th overall)
100m butterfly (result: 52.43 – 17th overall)
Stop Two – Westmont
50m freestyle (result: 21.45 – 11th overall – NZ record & PB)
100m freestyle (result: 47.86 – 26th overall)
200m freestyle (result: 1:43.70 – 13th overall – PB)
50m backstroke (result: 23.82 in final – 8th overall, 23.55 in heat)
100m butterfly (result: 23.68 – 26th overall)
Stop Three – Toronto
50m freestyle
100m freestyle
200m freestyle
Jack Hendy (Club 37 / Nusport HPC)
Stop One – Carmel
50m freestyle (result: 21.96 – 24th overall)
50m butterfly (result: 23.47 – 20th overall)
50m backstroke (result: 24.36 – 21st overall)
Stop Two – Westmont
50m freestyle (result: 22.03 – 29th overall)
100m freestyle (result: 49.28 – 43rd overall)
50m butterfly (result: 24.82 – 27th overall)
50m backstroke (result: 23.61 – 24th overall)
Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics / RPC Waikato)
Stop One – Carmel
200m breaststroke (result: 2:30.27 – 18th overall)
200m backstroke (result: 2:10.32 – 12th overall)
200m individual medley (result: 2:14.84 – 17th overall)
400m individual medley (result: 4:39.19 – 7th overall)
Stop Two – Westmont
400m freestyle (result: 4:18.73 – 19th overall)
100m individual medley (result: 1:03.61 – 26th overall)
400m individual medley (result: 4:43.73 – 12th overall)
200m backstroke (result: 2:10.22 – 16th overall)
Stop Three – Toronto
200m butterfly
400m individual medley
200m backstroke
200m individual medley
Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix Aquatics) – Aquablack #283
Stop One – Carmel
50m backstroke (result: 27.56 – 18th overall)
100m backstroke (result: 1:00.42 – 19th overall)
50m butterfly (result: 25.62 in final – 5th overall, 25.66 in heat)
100m butterfly (result: 59.64 – 13th overall)
50m freestyle (result: 25.62 – 22nd overall)
Stop Two – Westmont
50m freestyle (result: 25.64 – 26th overall)
50m backstroke (result: 27.89 – 18th overall)
100m backstroke (result: 1:02.29 – 31st overall)
50m butterfly (result: 26.37 – 11th overall)
100m butterfly (result: 58.95 in final – 8th overall, 57.75 in heat)
Stop Three – Toronto
50m backstroke
50m freestyle
100m backstroke
50m butterfly
100m butterfly
Other Results for Coaches from New Zealand
We would like to acknowledge our coaches based in New Zealand who work with athletes representing different federations.
Graham Hill coaching Rebecca Meder (North Shore representing South Africa)
200m individual medley (result: 2:07.60 in final - 5th overall, 2:07.58 in heat)
200m breaststroke (result: 2:18.88 in final – bronze, 2:19.92 in heat)
100m individual medley (result: 58.31 in final – 7th overall, 58.83 in heat)
100m breaststroke (result: 1:05.35 in final – 5th overall, 1:05.41 in heat)
Competition Schedule
Schedule for each of the three stops
Day One
Women’s 400m freestyle
Men’s 400m freestyle
Women’s 50m backstroke
Men’s 200m backstroke
Women’s 200m butterfly
Men’s 100m butterfly
Women’s 200m breaststroke
Men’s 100m breaststroke
Women’s 50m freestyle
Men’s 50m freestyle
Women’s 100m individual medley
Men’s 100m individual medley
Day Two
Women’s 400m individual medley
Men’s 50m backstroke
Women’s 200m freestyle
Men’s 200m individual medley
Women’s 100m backstroke
Men’s 50m breaststroke
Women’s 50m butterfly
Men’s 100m freestyle
Women’s 100m breaststroke
Men’s 200m butterfly
Men’s 1500m freestyle (alternatively 800m at stop two)
Day Three
Men’s 400m individual medley
Women’s 100m butterfly
Men’s 50m butterfly
Women’s 200m backstroke
Men’s 100m backstroke
Women’s 50m breaststroke
Men’s 200m breaststroke
Women’s 100m freestyle
Men’s 200m freestyle
Women’s 200m individual medley
Women’s 800m freestyle (alternatively 1500m at stop two)
Selected Team
The swimmers selected to represent New Zealand:
Name | Club | Coach |
Lewis Clareburt | Club 37 | Mitch Nairn |
Brearna Crawford | Waitakere | Paul Kent |
Caitlin Deans | Neptune & Swim Dunedin | Lars Humer |
Chelsey Edwards | North Shore | Graham Hill |
Erika Fairweather | North Shore | Graham Hill |
Isabelle Gibson | Club 37 | Mitch Nairn |
Cameron Gray | United | Andy McMillan |
Jack Hendy | Club 37 & Nusport HPC | Mitch Nairn & Sander Ganzevles |
Gina McCarthy | Hamilton Aquatics & RPC Waikato | Mat Woofe |
Hazel Ouwehand | Phoenix Aquatics | David Lyles |
The coaches selected to guide our team are:
Name | Organisation | Role |
Graham Hill | Swimming NZ & North Shore | Head Coach |
Andy McMillan | United | Coach |
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