Otago pair on Tokyo long-list

Two Otago swimmers have taken the first step on the road to Tokyo.

Neptune's Caitlin Deans and Erika Fairweather have been included on Swimming New Zealand's long-list for next year's Olympic team.

The pair were among 44 swimmers - including 22 women - to make the list.

Both had achieved the Olympic B standard.

Fairweather is coming off an exceptional national open championships.

The 15-year-old bagged three gold medals and a silver across four freestyle events.

She is set to compete at the coming world championships.

Meanwhile, Deans has continued to excel in longer-distance freestyle and won silver in the 1500m.

She attended the short course world championships at the end of last year.

The official Olympic trials will be held next year.

Ali Gayler was the only woman to achieve the A Olympic standard, while Lewis Clareburt and Bradlee Ashby were the only two men.