Fairweather & Glintmeyer in Record-Breaking Form on Day Two
- May 15
- 8 min read
Day Two Wrap - 2026 NZ Swimming Championships
Olympian Erika Fairweather (North Shore) kicked off day two of the New Zealand Swimming Championships with a bang, breaking a New Zealand record and swimming under the Commonwealth Games qualification time in the first event of the night.
Competing in the women’s 200m freestyle at the National Aquatic Centre in Auckland, Fairweather got off to a strong start before settling into her rhythm to build a good lead.
In a solid position after 150m, the 22-year-old then decided to go for it, flying home with a 29.04 in her last 50m to finish in 1:55.06 and break her own New Zealand record.
“I feel like that has been a long time coming,” said Fairweather. “I didn’t expect it to be tonight but I couldn’t be happier. I knew I had more to give going into that last 50m so I went for it and it was way faster than I thought.”
Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) finished second, ahead of Australian visitor Jade Starr in third while Eve Thomas (Coast) took bronze for the Kiwis. In the 17-18 years division Alyssa Tapper (St Peters) took gold in 2:02.12, followed by Olivia Emmett (Swim Rotorua) in silver and Holli Macdonald (Hamilton Aquatics) in bronze.
It was an exciting day of competition in the women’s 100m backstroke, with a host of swimmers showcasing the depth in the event. 17-year-old Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) was in fine form to swim 1:00.22 to equal Emily Thomas' New Zealand record from 2009 in her heat – swimming under the qualifying time for the Pan Pacific Championships. In the final, Glintmeyer finished second behind Amber George (Coast) who also went under the Pan Pacs qualification time in 1:00.27. Savannah Eve Martin rounded out the podium for Coast.
In the 17-18 years division Glintmeyer took gold, Bridie Quayle (Wharenui) silver and Pippa Mihaka (Hamilton Aquatics) bronze.
The men’s 100m butterfly was won by Lewis Clareburt who fought back after being in fourth place at the halfway mark. Clareburt was quick over the second 50 to touch the wall in 52.69, just outside of his PB, with the time another indicator of the strong form he’s in. Australia's Thomas Nankervis was second to the wall while Chris Elson (Vikings) took the Kiwi silver and Caleb Carlisle (Napier Aquahawks) the Kiwi bronze.
Neo Salomonsson (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) won the 17-18 years division in 54.37, Daniel Kregting (Roskill) was second, with Orlando Hardie (Hamilton Aquatics) in third.
In the 200m women’s freestyle multi-class Chloe Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane) backed up her strong heat swim to set an S19 New Zealand record in a time of 2:19.59. Aimee Van Aardt (S18 - Pukekohe) won silver, with Melissa Donoghue (S18 - Hamilton Aquatics) taking bronze.
The men’s version of the same event also saw a New Zealand record set. Daniel Smith (S19 - Pukekohe - 2:04.14) went four seconds under the New Zealand record to take the Kiwi gold. James Haydon (S14 - United) took the silver and Ian Chen (S19 - St Pauls) the bronze. Australia's Darren Sisman took the visitor gold, while fellow countryman Riley Moore took the visitor bronze.
The women’s multi class 100m butterfly saw Rylee Sayer (S7 - Hamilton Aquatics) in the pool for the first time at the meet. The 17-year-old didn’t disappoint, swimming a 1:22.40 for the win. The time was faster than the Minimum Qualifying Standard for the S8 100m butterfly at the Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, with athletes permitted to swim up a classification when an event is not available for their usual classification.
Chloe Gladwin placed second and Lili-Fox Mason (S10 - Wharenui) third. Aimee van Aardt (S18 - Pukekohe) reset the NZ record in 1:54.31 for the second time in the day.
The men’s version of the same event saw Daniel Smith continue his standout meet to set another New Zealand record. Smith clocked 1:00.03 to finish ahead of Asher Smith-Franklin (S14 - Coast) who took the Kiwi silver, and Joshua Willmer (S9 - Coast) who took the Kiwi bronze. Australia's Declan Budd took the visitor gold.
It was a clean sweep for United in the men’s 50m freestyle. Harrison Klouwens (United) stormed home in the last 10 metres to take the win in 22.32, ahead of team mates Michael Pickett who took silver, and Cameron Gray who earned bronze. Klouwens' performance marked his second time going under the Pan Pacs development standard.
Igor Russanov (Coast) took gold in the 17-18 years division in 22.94, followed by Luke Manderson (Wharenui) and Bruce Shen (Phoenix).
The women’s 100m breaststroke featured one of the tightest finishes of the evening. Brearna Crawford (Waitakere) faced a challenge over the last 25 metres from Zyleika Pratt-Smith (Coast), with Crawford just holding on to take the gold in 1:09.92. Pratt-Smith finished second and Alex McIntosh (United) third.
In the 17-18 years age group Alex McIntosh (United) took the win in 1:13.03, Grace Jeromson (North Shore) placed second and Alyssa Wangford (Parnell) third.
13-year-old April Lin (Phoenix) reset Jordyn Mahanga's 100m breaststroke national age record twice over the course of the day, with the new mark landing at 1:13.11. Mahanga's record had stood for 23 years, with Lin now holding both the 100m and 200m records.
Coast’s James Leigh, showed his development off the back of last year's World Junior Championships, winning a battle against Swim Rotorua’s Ariel Muchirahondo in the men’s 400m freestyle. The pair were neck and neck for most of the race with Leigh finishing strong to take the win in a PB time of 3:52.28. Muchirando took silver in 3:54.04 to go under the Junior Pan Pacific Championships qualifying time. Brendan Visser (Coast) took bronze.
In the 17-18 years division Muchirahondo took gold, Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) silver and Fraser Walker (United) bronze.
Neve Tassicker (Nga Tai Tuatea a Taraika) was a cut above in the women’s 200m butterfly to claim her fourth national title in the event. The 20-year-old touched the wall in 2:12.39 for gold, followed by Esme Paterson (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) in silver and Xanthe Miller (United) in bronze.
In the 17-18 years age group Xanthe Miller took gold, Olivia Emmett (Swim Rotorua) silver and Alexis Buissinne (North Shore) bronze.
The relays rounded out the evening with the 4x100m mixed freestyle kicking off proceedings where the North Shore A quartet of Grayson Coulter, Nemanja Markovic, Erika Fairweather and Chelsey Edwards secured a come from behind win in 3:32.78. Swimming Australia A took the visitor silver, with United A taking silver for the Kiwis and Hamilton Aquatics A earning bronze.
The 4x100m mixed medley final was a tight finish between North Shore and Coast, with the Coast A quartet of Amber George, Hara Hughes, Sam Kenny and Milan Glintmeyer just pulling ahead to claim the win in 3:58.12. North Shore A took silver and Phoenix Aquatics bronze.
Competition Details
Heats will be held from 9am each morning, with finals held in the evening from 6pm. Whilst there is no better place to watch the racing than live from in the grandstands, all sessions of the championships will be available live and free on the Swimming NZ YouTube channel.
Dates: 13 - 17 May
Location: Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre, Auckland
Heats Start: 8.55am (livestream), 9am (racing)
Finals Start: 5.50pm (livestream), 6pm (racing)
We also welcome back the Legends Relay on Saturday night, where our Kiwi favourites return to the pool and raise money for the NZ Swimming Trust who help support of next wave of swimmers.
Day Previews
Each day of competition has must watch races. An overview of each day has been provided below.
Day Three - Friday 15 May
Events:
Men's 200m freestyle
Women's 100m freestyle
Men's & women's 400m freestyle – multi-class
Men's 50m breaststroke
Women's 1500m freestyle
Men's & women's 50m backstroke – multi-class
Men's 200m backstroke
Women's 100m butterfly
Men's & women's 50m butterfly – multi-class
Men's 4x200m freestyle relay
Some of the key races to watch include:
Lewis Clareburt (United) returns to the pool for the men's 200m freestyle after breaking the national record by nearly two seconds in the event last month. Expect Clareburt to be in strong form as he goes up against Aquablacks Carter Swift (United) and Cameron Gray (United).
The women's 100m freestyle will feature a strong battle between Chelsey Edwards (North Shore), Milana Tapper (St Peter's), and Zoe Pedersen (Coast), with youngster Alyssa Lawson (Hamilton Aquatics) also one to watch.
The women's 1500m freestyle brings together Olympians Erika Fairweather (North Shore), Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin), and Eve Thomas (Coast) for another showdown in the distance events, with Commonwealth Games qualifying marks within reach for the trio.
The men's 200m backstroke will see New Zealand record holder Kane Follows (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) take on youngster Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua), with the pair looking to push each other towards strong performances.
Olympian and national record holder Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix) leads the field in the women's 100m butterfly while targeting the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark. Meanwhile, Rylee Sayer (Hamilton Aquatics) is expected to be in strong form in the women's multi-class 50m butterfly.
Day Four - Saturday 16 May
Events:
Legends Relay
Men's 200m butterfly
Women's 400m individual medley
Men's & women's 50m breaststroke – multi-class
Women's 50m backstroke
Men's 100m freestyle
Women's & men's 100m freestyle – multi-class
Women's 50m breaststroke
Men's 800m freestyle
Women's 4x200m freestyle relay
Some of the key races to watch include:
Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) is set to lead the field in the men's 200m butterfly, while Gina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics) will be the one to watch in the women's 400m individual medley.
Coast duo Amber George and Savannah-Eve Martin will battle it out in the women's 50m backstroke after making their Aquablack debuts last year and now targeting the Commonwealth Games standard.
The men's 100m freestyle is sure to be an action-packed showcase, featuring Olympians Lewis Clareburt and Cameron Gray (United), Aquablacks Carter Swift (United) and Michael Pickett (United), as well as up-and-coming sprinter Harrison Klouwens.
In the multi-class events, Rylee Sayer and Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) lead the New Zealand swimmers in the 100m freestyle.
Day Five - Sunday 17 May
Events:
Men's 400m individual medley
Women's 200m individual medley
Men's & women's 200m individual medley – multi-class
Men's 50m butterfly
Women's 50m freestyle
Men's & women's 50m freestyle – multi-class
Men's 200m breaststroke
Women's 800m freestyle
Women's 200m breaststroke
Men's 100m backstroke
Mixed 4x100m medley relay – multi-class
Women's 4x100m medley relay
Men's 4x100m medley relay
Some of the key races to watch include:
Lewis Clareburt (United) and Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua) meet for the second time during the week in the men's 400m individual medley.
Cameron Leslie (Whangarei) lines up against 14-time Paralympic medallist Takayuki Suzuki of Japan in the men's 50m freestyle — one of the week's most anticipated match-ups. The pair are separated by less than half a second on entry times and stood on the podium together in Singapore last year.
Aquablack Rylee Sayer (Hamilton Aquatics) rounds out her week with the multi-class 50m freestyle after breaking the S7 New Zealand record twice in the sprint event at the recent Australian Open.
Commonwealth Games medallist Cameron Gray (United) will be looking for a strong performance in the men's 50m butterfly, while Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) will be the one to watch in the women's 50m freestyle.
The women's 800m freestyle sees Olympians Erika Fairweather (North Shore), Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin), and Eve Thomas (Coast) battle it out one final time across the week's distance programme.
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