Swimming: Boyle wins at FINA World Cup in Doha

Lauren Boyle won the 800m freestyle final in Doha. Photo / Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

Lauren Boyle produced strong early season form with victory in the penultimate round of the FINA World Cup in Doha.

Boyle won the 800m freestyle final after earlier finishing fourth in the final of the 200m freestyle.

She beat off the challenge from Welsh swimmer Jaz Carlin, who won last year's 800m freestyle final over the Kiwi at the Commonwealth Games before Boyle reversed the result in the 400m freestyle in Glasgow.

Boyle, the world silver medallist, won in 8:24.76 to finish two and a half seconds clear of Carlin with Germany's Sarah Kohler third.

The Great Britain swimmer pushed the pace in the early stages, with Boyle edging ahead at the 300m mark. Carlin remained in touch until the 500m before Boyle's strength and fitness prevailed, pulling away impressively in her first international swim of the season.

Earlier she qualified for the final of the 200m freestyle, finishing fourth in 1:59.89 in the race won by last year's World Cup overall champion Katinka Hosszu (HUN) from former world record holder and Olympic gold medallist Federica Pellegrini (ITA).

Boyle will compete in the 400m freestyle tomorrow before competing in the final World Cup meet in Dubai at the weekend.

She was the only New Zealand swimmer to qualify for finals on the first day of the two-day competition.

Final results:
Women 800m freestyle: Lauren Boyle (NZL) 8:24.76, 1; Jaz Carlin (GBR) 8:27.25, 2; Sarah Kohler (GER) 8:28.76, 3.

Women 200m freestyle: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 1:56.60, 1; Federica Pellegrini (ITA) 1:58.06, 2; Coralie Balmy (FRA) 1:58.92, 3. Also: Lauren Boyle (NZL) 1:59.89, 4.