Erika Fairweather finishes sixth in 200m freestyle final at World Aquatics Championship

Erika Fairweather at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Photo / Photosport

Erika Fairweather has placed sixth in a fast final of the women’s 200m freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships.

Competing in Singapore, Fairweather was strong through the first 50m to touch the wall in third. Swimming in lane three, the Kiwi stuck just behind the leaders for the majority of the race, but was unable to match their speed over the final 50m, finishing in a time of 1m 55.61s.

The race was won by Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan in one minute 53.48s, with China’s Li Bingjie placing second and the USA’s Claire Weinstein third.

Fairweather will be back in the competition pool on Friday to contest the women’s 800m Freestyle.

Lewis Clareburt was also in action overnight, swimming in the semifinal of the men’s 200m Individual Medley.

Clareburt’s race will go down in history, with Olympic champion Leon Marchand, setting a World Record in a blistering time of 1m 52.69s, taking more than a second off the previous record which had stood since 2011.

Clareburt was solid throughout the race, staying in fourth to touch the wall in one minute 57.29s and lock in a spot in the final.

He will be back in the pool in the evening session overnight, for the 200m Individual Medley final, before contesting his favoured event, the 400m Individual Medley on Sunday.