Erika Fairweather, the 18-year-old from Dunedin who was so impressive in the Tokyo Olympics last year, hasn’t taken long to confirm her place among the top tier of Commonwealth Games swimmers.
There was some hot racing in the women’s 200m freestyle heats, but Fairweather more than held her own. She finished second in her heat and her time of 1min 58.18s placed her fifth overall of the semi-finalists, behind a trio of extremely impressive Australians.
The other New Zealander in the 200m freestyle, Eve Thomas, also rose to the occasion and her 2min 00.27s placed her 10th overall, comfortably into the evening semi-finals.
Dame Sophie Pascoe reaffirmed her favouritism in the women’s para S9 100m freestyle when she turned in the fastest time in qualifying, winning in 1min 03.38s. Countrywoman Tupou Neiufi also went through to the final with fourth placing in her heat in a time of 1min 15.97s.
In the 400m individual medley, Mya Rasmussen qualified sixth for the evening final, having finished third in her heat in a time of 4min 43.87s.
Cameron Gray progressed to the semi-finals of the men’s 50m butterfly when he finished fifth in his heat in 24.02s. There were 54 starters in the 50m butterfly and Gray was 14th fastest qualifier.
Andrew Jeffcoat, who turned 23 a week ago, made an impressive Commonwealth Games debut when he won his heat of the men’s 100m backstroke in 54.79s. Jeffcoat’s time was good enough for sixth overall of the 38 starters and his place in the semi-finals was never in doubt.
Helena Gasson qualified well for the women’s 100m butterfly semi-finals when she finished fifth in her heat in 59.37s. That placed her 11th overall of the 38 starters. There wasn’t such good news for the other New Zealander in the event, Hazel Ouwehand, whose 1min 01.03s left her 18th overall and in a reserve position.