Pallister Powers Home for Gold

21 August 2019
Lani Pallister claims gold

Cotton Tree’s freestyle super fish Lani Pallister has claimed Australia’s first gold medal of the 2019 World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest, after powering home in 8:22.49 in the Women’s 800m Freestyle.

Controlling the field right from the start, Pallister showed courage over the first 400m and set the pace for the rest of the field. When she finally hit the wall to take the junior title, not only did she shave three seconds off her personal best, she also set a new championship record. Her coach and mum, Janelle Pallister – who is a Dolphin and Olympian – proudly watched on as her daughter clocked a time which now sees her also ranked as the fourth fastest Australia in the 800m free.

Pallister sets a new championship record in the Women's 800m Freestyle.
Pallister proudly displays her gold next to Japan's Miyu Namba (silver) and Italy's Giullia Salin (Bronze).

Personal best times appeared to be the flavour of the night, with Mollie O’Callaghan recording her second of the meet. After posting 1:00.29 in yesterday’s 100m backstroke semis, the St Peters Western Product produced 1:00.27 in final to see her place fourth – narrowly missing a podium finish. Canada’s Jade Hannah took the gold in 59.63.

Rookie Elizabeth Dekkers showed no signs of nerves on her international debut, claiming fifth in the Women’s 200m butterfly final in personal best time of 2:10.42. Her stellar time equals Australian Dolphins, Maddie Groves’ 15 years Australian Age Record. 

Sydney-based swimmer Se-Bom Lee from Carlile showed grit in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley final, edging ever so close to breaking the two-minute barrier. Clocking a personal best time of 2:00.02 saw him place 5th overall.

Dekkers displays no nerves on her first international outing.
Dekkers displays no nerves on her first international outing.

Backing up from his silver-medal-winning performance in the 400m free on night one, Thomas Neill once again kept his cool – this time in a red-hot Men’s 200m Freestyle final. In a blanket finish which went down to the wire, Neill claimed sixth spot in a personal best time of 1:47.66.

The final event of the night – the 4x100 Mixed Medley Relay – had the crowd on their feet as the Aussies touched for fourth in 3:50.69. Joshua Edwards-Smith led the team with the backstroke leg (55.33), Joshua Yong held strong in the breaststroke (1.01.70), Michaela Ryan took flight in the butterfly (59.37) and Meg Harris anchored the freestyle leg (54.29). The USA took top spot (3.44.84), Russia claimed silver (3.48.06) and Canada the bronze (3.48.20).

Other Aussie Results:

Women’s 100m Freestyle – Meg Harris (54.70) and Mollie O’Callaghan (55.32) will both feature in tomorrow night’s final after qualifying third and seventh fastest.

Men’s 200m Individual Medley – Kalani Ireland placed 19th overall in a time of 2:04.66.

Men’s 100m Butterfly – Alex Quach finished 18th overall in a personal best of 53.86, while Oliver Nash finished 22nd overall in 54.62.

Women’s 200m Butterfly - Michaela Ryan finished 11th overall in 2:14.03. 

4x100 Mixed Medley Relay – Gabriella Peiniger was a heat team contributor, clocking a time of 1:00.62.  

Women’s 800m Timed-Final – Jessica Madden finished 20th overall in 8:54.10.

Event Details

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