Erika Fairweather of New Zealand Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand swimmer Erika Fairweather has smashed the World Cup series record in the women's 400m freestyle discipline to highlight the opening night of the meet in Berlin.
Fairweather lowered the eight-year-old mark which was held by another New Zealander - Lauren Boyle - by nearly three seconds to continue her superb form in 2023.
Pushed all the way by second-placed Australian Lani Pallister, 19-year-old Fairweather pulled clear over the final two lengths to win in 4 minutes 01.09 seconds.
It is the fastest World Cup time since Boyle swam 4:04.26 in Dubai in November 2015.
Fairweather's time is the fourth-fastest of her career, having joined the elite sub-four minute club in July at the world championships, where she clinched bronze 3:59.59.
- RNZ