Erika Fairweather and Caitlin Deans (Neptune) were in red hot form at the New Zealand Masters Swimming Championships, with both athletes laying down scorching new personal best times.

The 400m Freestyle kicked off the championships, with Fairweather clocking 4:02.11 and Deans blitzing her way to a new personal best time of 4:09.64. The time marked Deans' first time under the 4:10 barrier and Fairweather's seventh fastest performance to date.

Both athletes also contested the 200m Freestyle.

Deans continued her spree of personal best times, breaking the two minute barrier for the first time by touching the wall in 1:59.80. The time knocked half a second off her personal best time, and marked her fifth personal best time in the event in 2024.

Not to be outdone, Fairweather had a stellar performance clocking 1:55.30 to set a new personal best time and lower her Otago Open Record. Unfortunately, Erika's time will not count as a New Zealand Open Record, as the Swimming New Zealand Record policy states that New Zealand records cannot be set in mixed gender events.

With both athletes in the midst of a tough training block, the results are a sign of positive things to come by the time Paris rolls around.

The duo competed at the national Masters Championships as part of their preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games. At this time of year, there are limited long course racing opportunities across the country as regions turn their focus onto short course racing, with it being just two months out from the New Zealand Short Course Championships.

Article added: Thursday 13 June 2024