Swimmers will be gunning for Commonwealth Games qualification times when they dive into the national championships in Auckland today.
It is the final qualification opportunity for Glasgow, alongside the Pan Pacific championships and para championships, the junior Pan Pacific championships and the world junior open water championships.
More than 425 swimmers will line up across the five days, including swimmers from Australia, Japan, Germany, Bahrain and the Netherlands — and there is a strong crew of about 18 athletes representing Otago.
Among those hunting qualification times will be Dunedin Olympians Caitlin Deans and Kane Follows.
Dean (Neptune) had a standout 2025 national championships, shaving crucial seconds off several personal bests and will line up in the women’s 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle.
Follows (Neptune) will suit up for the 50m, 100m and backstroke.
The Aquablacks are joined by Neptune club-mates Emilia Finer, Lily McGrath and Esme Paterson.
Kiwi accounts for a large contingent of Otago swimmers in Neo Salomonsson, Alfie Weatherston Harvey, Abigail Samuels, Liam Rees, William McFarlane, Olivia McBride, Ruby Heath and Tom Gold.
The Dunedin club is also entered in the 4x100m men’s medley relay and the 4x100m mixed freestyle relay.
Central Otago has a tidy crew of Hana Carnie (Wanaka), Elli Kiuru (Alexandra) and Elizabeth Warry (Cromwell), while Kithmi Kandegoda Gamage and Milly Lietze will represent South Otago.
Former Dunedin Olympian Erika Fairweather will represent North Shore in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle, while Olympian Lewis Clareburt, who now trains in Melbourne, is making the trip home.
‘‘It’s been a big change moving to Melbourne, but I'm loving being around a big group of athletes who are really pushing me,’’ Clareburt said.
‘‘I'm looking forward to nationals. It's always a great week of competition. There are some amazing youngsters coming through and I'm excited to see them in action.’’
Swimming New Zealand Olympic head coach Graham Hill said it was a ‘‘really important event’’ for athletes searching for titles and qualification spots.
Deans, Fairweather and fellow Olympian Eve Thomas will battle in the 400m freestyle today.
