Australian Trials, Day 4 Finals: Lani Pallister Rips 8:10.84 Australian Record; Third-Fastest 800 Freestyler in History
One of the biggest decisions of her life has paid huge dividends in Adelaide tonight for Dolphins distance queen Lani Pallister, who smashed the Australian and Australian All-Comers 800m freestyle records – becoming the third fastest swimmer in history, posting a time of 8:10.84.
The decision to switch programs post Paris and link up with the master coach Dean Boxall at the St Peters Western program in Brisbane has seen Pallister raise the bar as she sets her long-term sights on LA28.
Australian record smile for Lani Pallister in the 800m free Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Pallister’s time took almost one-and-a-half seconds off the Australian record of 8:12.29 set by Olympic silver medallist Ariarne Titmus at last year’s Paris Olympics.
And almost half-a-second faster than world record holder Katie Ledecky’s long standing All-Comers record of 8:11.35 set at the 2014 Pan Pacs on the Gold Coast.
Here are her splits: 27.86; 58.13 (30.27); 1:28.66 (30.53); 1:59.60 (30.94); 2:30.48 (30.88) 3:01.53 (31.05) 3:32.37 (30.84); 4:03.54 (31.17); 4:34.26 (30.72); 5:05.35 (31.09); 5:36.27 (30.92); 6:07.50 (31.23); 6:38.63 (31.13); 7:10.06 (31.43); 7:41.20 (31.14); 8:10.84 (29.64).
And it’s certainly been quite the year for re-writing the women’s 800m freestyle top times with Ledecky’s remarkable world record of 8:04.12 set in Fort Lauderdale in May and Summer McIntosh’s Commonwealth record set in the most extraordinary week of her life in Victoria, Canada, this past week, clocking 8:05.07 and where she set world records in the 400m freestyle and the 200 and 400 IMs.
The three fastest 800m swimmers in history will now face off in Singapore in July at the World Championships – in what will be a promoters dream.
The fourth fastest swimmer, Titmus, was on pooldeck tonight at the SA Aquatic And Leisure Centre and where she has been all week, working with host broadcasters Channel Nine.
But in a rare twist Titmus stood and spoke to her coach and Pallister’s new coach Dean Boxall live through the middle of the race for rare insights as Pallister turned over the splits that would eventually see Titmus lose her Australian record.
Boxall telling the audience what he has done technically to tweak Pallister’s stroke and rating, riding every stroke and every turn, at one stage saying to Titmus, who is having a break from the pool: “You should be out there!”
RECORD STROKE: Lani Pallister in action on her way to the 800m freestyle Australian record. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr, Swimming Australia
In Australia it has just been announced that the Nine Network has bought the rights to the World Championships with international swimming back in prime time in a non-Olympic year and Titmus will again be poolside and not in the pool.
Pallister saying on Channel 9 that she had wanted the Australian record for so long.
“I’m really stoked. I would have liked to have just gone under 8;10. But I’m pretty keen to go and race out this summer,” said Pallister.
“I made my first team in this pool. With Arnie not racing, it’s kind of bittersweet not having her in the pool at this moment, she’s done so much for women’s swimming internationally. But also, just everything she’s done for Australian swimming.
“I have a lot to thank her for, she’s inspired me as an athlete. I’ve been able to travel with her and watch how she conducts herself
“I’ve been training with Dean and the staff at St Peters for around 10 weeks, so it’ll be a big three years (to LA28).
“I race around 5.4km without the relays. So potentially 5.6km – 5.8km of racing at Worlds. I know that Dean and all the staff and Peters have a plan for that, I’m sure they’ll keep me aerobically fit for the next five weeks going into Singapore”
“I’m just excited to go back and build on that. I think the sky’s the limit, and I can’t wait to see what happens in this cycle, and going into LA 2028.”
Boxall’s super squad had four swimmers in the top eight in tonight’s final, with Pallister’s fellow 4x200m freestyle gold medallist from Paris, Jamie Perkins finishing second in 8:26.20 with Tiana Kritzinger (Rackley, QLD) third in 8:32.77 – all three placegetters under the Singapore QT.
It has been quite the week for Pallister and Perkins – finishing 1-2 in the women’s 400m – Pallister becoming the seventh swimmer in history to break four minutes.
Pallister also swimming a personal best and under 1:55 in the 200m for the first time when she finished second to Olympic champion Mollie O’Callaghan with Perkins third.
With Lani revealing tonight that she actually won’t swim the 200m in Singapore, and like she did in Paris, dropping the 400m allowing Perkins to come in and it will be Perkins again who will now join her SPW team mate and Olympic champion O’Callaghan in her third individual event.
“ I also think it’s pretty important to recognise Jamie. That’s a huge PB for her and she’ll have the 200m at world championships. This year, I won’t be swimming it, so I’m pretty excited that I get to cheer on my teammates and be part of that 4×200, but also just be able to sit back and watch their hard work in the pool.”
POOLSIDE PICS…..with Arnie and Dean
JUST FOR THE RECORD: Ariarne Titmus and Dean Boxall poolside at the SA Aquatic And Leisure Centre as Lani Pallister breaks Arnie’s Australian 800m freestyle record. PhotoS Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)
