Sydney Sprints: Lani Pallister Clocks Australian Record In 800 Freestyle; David Johnston Shines Again

ALL FIRED UP: Lani Pallister has been like smoke on water over the four day Sydney Sprints meet winning the 400, 800 and 1500m freestyle in stunning fashion. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).

Sydney Sprints: Lani Pallister Completes Stunning Treble With Australian SC Record of 8:07.37 In The 800m Freestyle

Lani Pallister has earned a well deserved two-week break after setting her second Australian record in four days clocking the 10th fastest time in history in the women’s 800m freestyle on the final night of the Sydney Sprints Meet.

The 20-year-old Gold Coaster, who has strong family ties in Sydney with her grandfather watching on from the Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre grandstand, stopped the clock at a sizzling 8:07.37 – almost three seconds under her own Australian record and rocketing her from 18th all time into 10th.

RECORD SMILE: Lani Pallister after her record breaking swim. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Pallister – the World Championship and Commonwealth Games medallist, has been on fire all week at the Australian Short Course Titles starting the meet on night one with a new Australian record in the 1500m of 15:24.63 after earlier finishing third in the 200m in 1:53.81 before last night’s world class 400m personal best of 3:56.74.

Sydney Sprints: Aussie Lani Pallister and USA’s David Johnston In Record Blitz At Aussie Short Course Champs

And she has a firm belief that with a higher volume of training at Griffith University under coaches Michael Bohl and her mother, Olympian Janelle Elford that she can swim faster.

Pallister has now won the prestigious 400, 800, 1500m treble with that close-up third over 200m and will spearhead the Australian Dolphins into December’s FINA World Short Course Championships in Melbourne.

And as always Pallister was on the money from the opening laps splitting 27.53 at the 50 metre mark and 57.52 at the 100m as she slotted into her groove with the following splits 200m (1:58.47), 300m (2:59.70), 400m (4:01.22), 500m (5:02.67), 600m (6:04.57Z), 700m (7:06.73) and 800m (8:07.37).

But she believes that more volume will see her swim even faster.

“Like all swimmers we strive for perfection and I firmly believe that with more volume I’ll be able to come home quicker but that kind of swim gives you belief and confidence in the training you’ve done,” said Pallister.

While in the men’s 1500m freestyle it was Texas Longhorn David Johnston (USA) who dropped a whopping 40 seconds off his entry time to stop the clock at 14.22.77 (53.99; 1:51.02; 3:46.92; 7:39.86) to record the 14th fastest times in history and just over three seconds outside Connor Jaeger’s 2015 US SC record – and topping off a great meet that included his US record over 800m freestyle.

David Johnston Destroys American Record in 800 Freestyle During Trip Down Under

There was a great race for the minor placing with Stuart Swinburne (City of Sydney, NSW) second home and claiming the Australian title and a World Championship qualifier of 14: 47.96 with Matthew Galea (Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic) third in 14:49.90.

Meanwhile recently crowned Commonwealth Games 100m freestyle champion, 2016 Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA) completed the 50, 100 and 200m freestyle treble to also earn a break after his World Championship, Commonwealth Games campaign – storming home in 21.06 to keep US rival Justin Ress (21.29) with Somerset QLD’s Grayson Bell (21.36) in third and like Chalmers under the World Championship qualifying time of 21.40.

The women’s event went to Olympic and Commonwealth Games 50m champion Emma McKeon (Griffith University, QLD).

McKeon led all-the way to win in 23.61, just outside her best of 23.50 but under the QT and she will be joined in Melbourne by second placed Meg Harris (Marion, SA) 23.84 who moves up to sixth fastest Australian.

TRIPLE TREAT: Jenna Strauch on her way to a third straight Australian SC 200m breaststroke title. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia.

The women’s 200m breaststroke draw a double to Miami team mates, World Championship and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jenna Strauch winning her third straight title in 2:21.57 holding off Mikayla Smith (2:21.97).

While the men’s final went to Commonwealth Games 100m bronze medallist Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) who completed the breaststroke treble, adding the 200m in a pb of 2:0711 from lane zero, to his 50 and 100m wins.

David Schlicht (MLC Aquatic, VIC) finished second in 2:07.79 – a world championship QT with Yannik Zwolsman (Southport, QLD) third in 2:08.01.

The 100IM double went to US pair Beata Nelson (58.14) in the women’s and Grant House (51.73) in the men – with Kayla Hardy (Cruise, ACT) taking the Australian women’s title in 1:00.67 and Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) the men’s in 52.67 after Clyde Lewis’ time trial this morning of 52.57.

Results

Sydney Sprints Australian Short Course Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, DAY 4 FINALS

Women’s 100m Butterfly Multi-Class
Yasmine-Bella Younes (S14) (Bankstown Sports, NSW) – 1:11.20
Montana Atkinson (S14) (Helensvale, QLD) – 1:12.38
Maddison Hinds (S14) (Hornsby, NSW) – 1:13.36

Men’s 100m Butterfly Multi-Class
Ricky Betar (S14) (Cruiz, ACT) – 56.96
Bailey Stewart (S14) (University of Queensland, QLD)) – 1:01.45
Alex Saffy (S10) (Bunbury, WA) – 59.09

Women’s 50m Freestyle
Emma McKeon (Griffith University, QLD)) – 23.61
Meg Harris (Marion, SA) – 23.84
Madi Wilson (Marion, SA) – 23.99

Emma McKeon – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr/Swimming Australia

Men’s 50m Freestyle
Kyle Chalmers (Marion, SA) – 21.06
Justin Ress (USA) – 21.29
Grayson Bell (Somerset, QLD)) – 21.36

Kyle Chalmers – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia)

Women’s 200m Breaststroke
Jenna Strauch (Miami, QLD)) – 2:21.57
Mikayla Smith (Miami, QLD)) – 2:21.97
Ashleigh Oberekar (Valley Aquatic, NSW) – 2:22.82

Jenna Strauch – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

Men’s 200m Breaststroke
Sam Williamson (Melbourne Vicentre, VIC) – 2:07.11
David Schlicht (MLC Aquatic, VIC) – 2:07.79
Yannik Zwolsman (Southport, QLD) – 2:08.01

Sam Williamson – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

Women’s 50m Backstroke Multi-Class
Kael Thompson (S14) (Sunshine Coast Grammar, QLD) – 32.66
Hannah Price (S9) (Campbelltown, NSW) – 34.32
Nicole Taylor (S15) (Griffith, NSW) – 33.64

Hannah Price – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

Men’s 50m Backstroke Multi-Class
Jarred Dyer (S14) (Wollongong, NSW) – 30.00
Joshua Alford (S14) (University of Queensland, QLD) – 30.14
Declan Budd (S14) (Knox Pymble, NSW) – 30.95

Women’s 100m Medley
Beata Nelson (USA) – 58.14
Kayla Hardy (Cruiz, ACT) – 1:00.67
Mia O’Leary (Bond, QLD) – 1:00.80

Beata Nelson – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

Men’s 100m Medley
Grant House (USA) – 51.73
Cody Simpson (Griffith University, QLD) – 52.67
Trenton Julian (USA) – 52.76

Cody Simpson – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

Women’s 100m Breaststroke Multi-Class
Tegan Reder (SB11) (UWA West Coast, WA) – 1:33.20
Stephanie Bruzzese (SB14) (Trinity Grammar, NSW) – 1:23.92
Maddison Hinds (SB14) (Hornsby, NSW) – 1:23.93

Men’s 100m Breaststroke Multi-Class
Jake Michel (SB14) (Carina Leagues, QLD) – 1:02.79 (World Record)
Lachlan Hanratty (SB14) (Revesby Workers, NSW) – 1:14.15
Samuel Gould (SB14) (Helensvale, QLD) – 1:14.41

Women’s 800m Freestyle
Lani Pallister (Griffith University, QLD) – 8:07.37 (Australian Record)
Jacinta Essam (Ginninderra, NSW) – 8:33.50
Jacqueline Davison-McGovern (Yeronga Park, QLD) – 8:44.85

Lani Pallister Australian SC record Sydney Sprints

Lani Pallister – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

Men’s 1500m Freestyle
David Johnston (USA) – 14:22.77
Stuart Swinburn (City of Sydney, NSW) – 14.47.96
Matthew Galea (SOPAC, NSW)

David Johnston – Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr Swimming Australia

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