Routhwaite, who was ranked second woman in the world behind Nevatt in 2012 by the AIDA International federation, was not happy on Saturday morning with her first event of the Static discipline, which involves staying still under the surface.
As that discipline is as much about mental strength as physical, Routhwaite was disappointed when she came back up after two-and-a-half minutes and was disqualified for breaking "surface protocol".
There is a heavily enforced routine when divers come up for air in that they have 15 seconds to remove their face apparatus, signal the judges and verbally say they are "okay".
In the dynamic with-fin event on Sunday morning Routhwaite managed to complete 122m on a single breath.
"I should have hit 125m and turned, but I didn't."
Later in the dynamic without fin, she completed 103m well below the 133m personal record she set last year as well as the 128m mark she reached two weeks ago.
"I'm capable of doing much more. I wanted a convincing second place." Pomarede, 36, of France, would finish just 0.1 points behind her in third.
Held in the Lido and Freyberg Pools, where Nevatt trains, the event attracted divers from freediving clubs around New Zealand, ranging from beginners to world champions.
As they are both Breathtakers Freediving Club members, Routhwaite trains with Nevatt as well as at the Wanganui Splash Centre, her sponsor.
Along with distance and times, Routhwaite now wants to go deep as she is now preparing for the national depth competition at Lake Taupo in March.
