New Zealand swimmers have made a flying start in the pool at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, putting themselves in contention for medals on opening day.
Erika Fairweather posted the fastest time of the 400 metre freestyle heats, qualifying first in a time of 4 minutes 6.42 seconds, with team-mate Caitlin Deans qualifying third in the same race on Friday (NZT).
The Kiwi pair were separated by Australian Amelia Weber in second.
Fairweather would look to go one better at Glasgow after narrowly missing the podium in the 400 metre freestyle final at Birmingham.
Eve Thomas also placed third in her heat for the same event, behind Australian pair Lani Pallister and Jenna Forrester.
The trio of New Zealand women would face off in the 400 metre freestyle final due to happen about 6.05am Saturday morning (NZT).
Meanwhile, Lewis Clareburt, who clinched double gold and bronze at Birmingham in 2022, qualified second in the 200 metre individual medley, behind Englishman Thomas Dean.
Clareburt’s qualifying time was 1.2 seconds shy of his bronze-medal performance at Birmingham.
The 27-year-old would vie for a fifth Commonwealth Games medal in the 200 metre medley final about 6.15am Saturday (NZT).
Hazel Ouwehand also booked a final berth finishing second in a tightly-contested 50 metre butterfly heat.
The 26-year-old’s time of 26.4 seconds was 0.16 seconds behind Jessica Thompson, of South Africa.
Zoe Pedersen also finished second in her 50 metre butterfly heat, completing the swim in 26.6 seconds, 1.05 seconds behind Australian Alex Perkins.
Ouwehand and Pedersen will contest the 50 metre butterfly final about 7.10am Saturday NZT.