Lani Pallister Saves The Best Till Last With Her 15:39.14 – Becoming The Third Fastest Woman In History Over 1500m
Lani Pallister has amazingly saved her best till last at the World Swimming Trials in Adelaide tonight, becoming the third fastest woman in history over 1500m freestyle.
The 23-year-old from St Peters Western, QLD steaming through 30 laps of the SA Aquatic And Leisure Centre pool in 15 minutes 39.14 seconds – almost 10 seconds faster than she has ever swum in her life.
Lani Pallister 1500m Aus Trials Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Bettered only by world record holder Katie Ledecky from the US (15:20.48) in 2018 and Denmark’s Lotte Friis (15:38.88) – a new Commonwealth and Australian record.
The previous Commonwealth record held since the 2015 World Championships by New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle at 15:40.15 and the Australian record held by Madeleine Gough at 15:46.13 since 2021.
And bettered this year only by Ledecky, the greatest female freestyler in history, who clocked 15:24.51 in April.
Pallister was on her own from the outset in a race against the clock as she prepares to race Ledecky and Canadian wonder swimmer Summer McIntosh over 400 and 800m and Ledecky over 1500m at the World Championships in Singapore.
Here is a look at Pallister’s splits: 59.94; 2:01.98; 3:04.69; 4:07.40; 5:10.26; 6:13.10; 7:16.03; 8:18.92;9:21.72; 10:24.66; 11:27.74; 12:31.04; 13:34.68; 14:38.04; 15:39.14.
Tonight’s swim coming after a series of personal best times in the:
200m freestyle (1:54.89) – only the fourth Australian ever to swim under 1:55.00 – when she finished second to Mollie O’Callaghan – A race she won’t contest in Singapore.
400m freestyle (3:59.72) – becoming only the seventh woman in history under four minutes and the;
800m freestyle (8:10.84) – now the third fastest woman ever behind Ledecky and McIntosh.
Lani Pallister end of 1500 World Trials Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Pallister saying after her feat tonight she was actually chasing number two all time, held by Friis.
“I was looking at the rankings and Lotte is one that stood for a long time, obviously only behind Katie,” said Pallister, admitting she fell apart with 500m to go.
“But that’s 10 seconds faster than my best time from three years ago; it’s nice getting a little bit of progress. It’s one of those events where you can plateau for so long, but it’s nice to have the big drop.
“I felt so sick, but I’m just really stoked for the week that I put together.
“Being supported by my teammates and my first Trials met under a new club with (new coach) Dean Boxall and Mick Lewandowski, it’s been incredible.
“St Peters Western is such an incredible environment. I’m so excited to train for another five weeks with the distance group.
“I’m enjoying living in Brisbane; I get to live with my best friend, Lizzie Dekkers in what has been a huge change this year, but it’s, truly the happiest I’ve been in a very long time.”
It was a big night all round with Paris debutant Ella Ramsay (Griffith University, QLD) qualifying for her fourth event, winning the 400IM in a personal best time of 4:36.12.
Ramsay has now qualified in both the 200 and 400Ims and the 100 and 200m breaststrokes in a brilliant display of all-round swimming, setting herself for a busy week of swimming in Singapore.
Ella Ramsay 400IM World Trials Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
Her Olympic teammate Jenna Forrester (St Peters Western, QLD) had to wait until the final night to book her ticket, and she did in style, finishing touch behind Ramsay in 4:36.19 – and celebrating her selection on her 22nd birthday.
Ramsay saying it was great to have another good swim on the final day but her program in Singapore hadn’t been finalised.
“I had to keep it composed, I’m happy with that time too,” said Ramsay.
“To be honest I haven’t figured out my program for Singapore yet, I’ll have a chat with my team after this race and work it out.”
Forrester saying she certainly had left her qualification till the last minute.
“I’m so happy with that. I feel like this year has been a bit interrupted for me, so I didn’t know what I was going to be able to do coming into this week,” said Forrester.
“That’s the fastest time I’ve swam in two years, so I’m happy, so it’s a great birthday present.
“I missed the Olympic final by only 0.01, I think that left me hungry and I’m definitely ready for eyes set on LA28.”
While in the women’s 50 metres final, Olympic silver medallist Meg Harris (Rackley, QLD) was a clear winner in 24.17 but who will join her behind the blocks in Singapore is no so clear after Olivia Wunsch (Carlile, NSW) and Alex Perkins (USC Spartans, QLD) dead-heated for second in 24.70 – an unprecedented situation.
Meg Harris start Aust Trials Photo Courtesy Delly Carr Swimming Australia
A round-table discussion with Australian head coach Rohan Taylor and the girls coaches Michaela Pattinson (Wunsch) and Michael Sage (Perkins) will determine who joins Harris.
Harris saying: “That’s the swim I’ve been training for, I was trying to figure out what I was going to do this year and if I should take a step back and I’m glad I didn’t. As hard as it was, I’ve found a new way to motivate myself this year and I’ve found a new appreciation for the sport.
“I’ve focussed a lot on the things that I really enjoy about the sport. Not necessarily the hard things that I need to get better, but definitely after that race I’m excited to get those little things together again, I’m very happy with that swim.”