Qualification Times and National Records Highlight Night One in Auckland
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Day One Wrap - 2026 NZ Swimming Championships
The nation's top swimmers have kicked off the New Zealand Swimming Championships in style, with national records falling and qualification times achieved on day one of the competition.
Two-time Olympian Lewis Clareburt (United) featured in one of the races of the night at the Sir Owen G Glenn National Aquatic Centre in Auckland. Competing in the men’s 200m individual medley, Clareburt was pushed all the way by 17-year-old up and comer Ariel Muchirahondo (Swim Rotorua). The pair were neck and neck going into the final 50m, with Clareburt finishing strong to clock his fastest time of the year in 1:57.65 to go under the Commonwealth Games qualification time.
Clareburt spoke on the close race between him and Muchirahondo.
“That was great, it was good to race a young gun, 17-year-old who kept me right on my feet the whole race.”
Clareburt is excited about the prospect of his third Commonwealth Games.
“I’ve got my best memories ever at the Commonwealth Games. 2018 won my first medal on the world stage, then Birmingham, most of my lifetime bests are from those Games, so I’m excited to go to Glasgow for the first time. It’s going to be fun.”
Muchirahondo finished second in 2:00.12 to break his own 17 years New Zealand age group record and go under the qualifying time for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships. The performance was also under the development standard for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Liam Rees (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) took the bronze in 2:07.23.
In the 17-18 years age group, Muchirahondo took gold ahead of Fraser Walker (United - 2:07.65) and Nemanja Markovic (North Shore - 2:09.40).
The women’s 400m freestyle was another standout race. Olympian Erika Fairweather (North Shore) was in a class of her own, leading from start to finish and showing her form as she touched the wall in 4:01.42 to go under the Commonwealth Games qualification time.
Fairweather was happy to deliver that performance ahead of a big year of international racing.
“It was a competitive field and it was great to see that time on the board,” said Fairweather. “I’ve put in a load of work this year so I’m feeling really positive. This will be my second Commonwealth Games so I’m really looking forward to it.”
It was a tight race for second place with Eve Thomas (Coast) taking silver in 4:06.85 and Caitlin Deans (Neptune) less than a second behind to take bronze in 4:07.78 – both clocking Pan Pacific Championships qualification times.
Alyssa Tapper (St Peter's - 4:15.96) took gold in the 17-18 years age group, with Olivia Emmett (Swim Rotorua - 4:22.66) and Olivia Bates (North Shore - 4:26.02) joining her on the podium.
Defending Commonwealth Games gold medallist Joshua Wilmer (Coast) broke the SB8 New Zealand record in his 100m breaststroke heat with a blistering time of 1:10.58, the result also qualifying him for the Para Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.
Speaking on his heats performance, Willmer highlighted the work he's been putting in at training.
“It was an epic swim, a PB and a New Zealand record so there wasn’t much more I could ask for. My swimming overall is going really well, I’m feeling good in the water and just concentrating on training hard and putting the work in.”
The 21-year-old placed second in the multi-class final, behind Daniel Smith (SB19 - Pukekohe) who touched the wall in 1:08.42. Smith later swam the event again in the C final of the Olympic pathway event, clocking 1:07.96 to also break the New Zealand record. Australian Beau Matthews claimed the visitor bronze, with Asher Smith-Franklin (Coast) taking bronze for the Kiwis.
In the women's 50m butterfly Hazel Ouwehand (Phoenix) swam under the Commonwealth Games qualification time once again, picking up another national title as she clocked an impressive 25.55. Zoe Pedersen (Coast) placed second in 26.18 to go under the qualifying time for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, with Brooke Swan (Nelson) taking third in 27.67.
Australian Alice Monaghan (27.47) was first to the wall in the 17-18 years age group followed by team mate Tribeca Liu (27.74). Ania Maritz (North Shore - 28.33) took gold for the Kiwis, with Freya Hingston (United - 28.95) in silver and Olivia Emmett (Swim Rotorua - 28.98) in bronze.
There was a double Para Pan Pacs qualification in the women’s 100m breaststroke multi class. Jessica Johnstone (St Peters) and Gaby Smith (Wharenui) both qualified in the SB9 classification, with the pair swimming well to clock 1:18.41 and 1:21.23 respectively. The performance saw the pair claim gold and silver, respectively, with Australia's Mia Hogan taking the visitor bronze and Chlow Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane) taking bronze for the Kiwis. Charlotte Rozen (Wharenui) broke the S18 NZ record with her time of 2:11.38.
In the men’s 100m backstroke multi class Japan's Ogiwara Kotaro clocked 1:08.85 to claim visitor gold, while David Beck (S14 - United) took gold for the Kiwis in 1:09.66. Australia's Declan Budd claimed visitor silver, while Lance Dustow (S19 - Central Hawke’s Bay) was second for New Zealand in 1:17.56 and James Haydon (S14 - United) third in 1:12.77s. Luka Willems (S18 - Wharenui) set a NZ record in 1:57.71s.
The women’s version of the same event saw Australia's Madeleine McTernan (S14) claim visitor gold in 1:17.59 while Chloe Gladwin (S19 - Whakatane) took the win for the Kiwis in 1:17.59. Gemma Sellick (S9 - Australia) claimed visitor silver, as Lili-Fox Mason (S10 - Wharenui) claimed New Zealand silver in 1:17.02 and Brooke Anderson (S7 - Wharenui) bronze in 1:40.44.
Jasper Cornish (Coast) was in fine form in the men’s 50m backstroke, setting a PB as he won in 25.50. Kane Follows (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) was second in 25.76 and Lucas Bell (Wharenui) third in 25.82 to qualify for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships, with Bruce Shen (Phoenix - 26.11) also hitting the qualifying mark.
Bell and Shen took silver and bronze in the 17-18 years age group, and we joined on the podium by Mitch Ellis (Liz van Welie Aquatics - 26.42)
Meanwhile three young swimmers qualified for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in the women’s 200m backstroke.
17-year-old Milan Glintmeyer (Coast) was impressive, setting a 17 years NZ age record and going under the Junior Pan Pacs time to win the open national title in 2:12.17. The time was also under the development standard for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Georgina McCarthy (Hamilton Aquatics) was second in 2:14.27, while Australian Ivy Miller claimed visitor bronze. Laura Menzies (Wharenui) placed third for the New Zealanders in 2:14.67 to better the qualifying mark for Junior Pan Pacs, with clubmate Bridie Quayle also going under the standard in 2:15.80.
Glintmeyer and Quayle took gold and silver respectively in the 17-18 years age group, with Pippa Mihaka (Hamilton Aquatics) joining them on the podium.
In the gruelling men’s 1500m freestyle Larn Hamblyn-Ough (Coast) dug deep to touch the wall in 15:54.50 to win gold. Alfie Weatherston Harvey (Kiwi & Swim Dunedin) placed second in 15.58.99 and Tyler Lushkott (North Shore) third in 16:26.96.
Weatherston Harvey claimed gold in the 17-18 years age group, ahead of Jack Barton (North Shore - 16:30.59) and Ethan Stocks (Roskill - 16:40.85)
The men’s 100m breaststroke was one of the closest races of the evening. Kevin Zhang (Roskill) held his nerve in a tight finish to win by four hundredths of a second in 1:03.10. Hara Hughes (Coast) placed second just behind Zhang in 1:03.14 and Blair Helms (North Shore) third in 1:04.22.
Elwin Bao (North Shore - 1:05.40) took gold in the 17-18 years age group, joined on the podium by Rylind Wheeler (North Canterbury - 1:05.87) and Jonathan Swanepoel (Coast - 1:06.08).
The relays rounded out the evening with a New Zealand record set in the men’s 4x100m freestyle. The United Swimming Club A team of Carter Swift, Cameron Gray, Lewis Clareburt and Zac Dell combined perfectly to set the record in 3:14.07. The quarter got off to a racing start, with Swift clocking 48.68 on the opening leg and Gray notching a monster 47.81 on the second leg. Clareburt and Dell clocked impressive times too, with all members of the team swimming comfortably under the 50 second mark.
In the relay, 16-year-old Liam Curling (Coast) also got off to a flying start in his lead-off leg to clock 50.73 and go under the qualifying mark for the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.
The women’s version of the 4x100m free was won by North Shore Swimming Club A in 3:43.09, with the quartet of Chelsey Edwards, Erika Fairweather, Amelia Bray and Tess Whineray finishing more than five seconds ahead of their closest competitor.
Key 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 Two - Thursday 14 May
Events:
Women's 200m freestyle
Men's 50m freestyle
Women's & men's 200m freestyle – multi-class
Women's 100m backstroke
Men's 100m butterfly
Women's & men's 100m butterfly – multi-class
Women's 100m breaststroke
Men's 400m freestyle
Women's 200m butterfly
Mixed 4x100m freestyle relay
Mixed 4x100m medley relay
Some of the key races to watch include:
The women's 200m freestyle shapes up as one of the week's deepest events. Erika Fairweather leads the charge, with Aquablacks Milana Tapper (St Peter's), Caitlin Deans (Neptune & Swim Dunedin), Chelsey Edwards (North Shore) and Eve Thomas (Coast) all in the field alongside strong Australian competition. With potential relay spots on the line, expect fast swimming throughout.
Expect emerging sprinter Harrison Klouwens (United) to lead the way in the men's 50m freestyle, after hitting the development time for the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships late last year, however he will be up against a field of strong sprinters including a number of Aquablacks.
The women's 100m backstroke will see Coast teammates Amber George, Savannah-Eve Martin and Milan Glintmeyer all targeting Commonwealth Games qualification times.
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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