Australian Trials, Day 1, Finals: Lani Pallister’s Heart Stopping 3:59.72 To Join The Exclusive “Sub Four Minutes” 400 Free Club
Paris Olympian Lani Pallister has joined the exclusive “sub four minutes club” in taking out the women’s 400m freestyle, stopping the clock in a time of 3:59.72 in a race against the clock at the SA Aquatic And Leisure Centre n Adelaide.
The 23-year-old Queenslander becomes the seventh fastest woman in history to swim under four minutes for 400m freestyle, beating home St Peters Western teammate 20-year-old Jamie Perkins, who Pallister gifted a swim to in last year’s Paris Olympics, who also clocked a personal best time of 4:04.03 and will join Pallister in the event at the Singapore World Championships.
STROKIN: Lani Pallister in full cry. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).
While 19-year-old Amelia Weber made it a St PetersWestern trifecta taking third in her personal best of 4:06.73.
It was an extra special night for Pallister with a who’s who, poolside cheering her on.
Led by new coach Dean Boxall (St Peters Western, QLD) who urged on his next three best 400m girls in Australia (behind his super star two-time Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus) for eight energizing mad-cap laps in another coaching masterclass.
With Lani’s Seoul Olympian mother Janelle Elford spurring her on from the coaches pen and her godmother and Olympic legend Dawn Fraser sitting proudly in the grandstand in an Australian tracksuit.
While the two-time Olympic champion and former world record holder Titmus was on the Channel 9 microphone providing expert lap-by-lap commentary from pool deck.
Pallister joins newly crowned world record holder Summer McIntosh (CAN) 3:54.18, two-time Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus (AUS) 3:55.38, Rio Olympic champion Katie Ledecky (USA) 3:56.46, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) 3.59.44, the first woman under 4 minutes in 2009, Ericka Fairweather (NZL) 3:59.44, the world champion in 2024 and Asian Games queen Li Bingjie (CHN) 3:59.99.
Pallister, 2022 World Short Course champion, who withdrew from the Paris event to concentrate on the 4×200 freestyle, the 800 and 1500m freestyle, was quick to set up her race, out in an impressive 56.86 at the 100m, 1:57.33 at the 200m and 2:58.50 at the 300m mark for her 3:59.72.
When asked about officially being a member of the sub 4-minute club, Pallister admitted coach Boxall told her not to think about it although it had been on her mind this whole year.
DAWN IN HER CORNER: Godmother Dawn Fraser a mentor to Lasni Pallister. Photo Courtesy Wade Brennan (Wade’s Photos).tos)
‘When I moved to train with Dean and his team…. he had more belief in me than I actually had in myself,” said Pallister.
“So it’s been incredible training with the group, day-in and day-out with Jamie (Perkins), we’ve swum together since Jamie was 10 until she was 17….I don’t think we ever thought we would swim together again, so to be able to qualify with her is great, she’s pretty much my little sister and I’m so happy for her to get the individual 400m as well.”
Perkins, who will join Pallister in Singapore, saying: “It was such a great experience at the Olympics to swim the 400 freestyle, getting an individual race.
“I never thought that would happen to me at 19 years of age, so to come away with another international swim on a long course swim at Worlds this year is incredible.”
Lani paying tribute to godmother Dawn Fraser who has battled a life-and-death struggle over the last 12 months – but wasn’t going to miss this meet with Lani and usher in the Dolphins Class of 2025.
“Dawn told me last week she’d be making the trip down (from Noosa) and I’m so grateful having her in my life as a friend but also as an inspiration and a role model.”
“I think she’s one of Australia’s original inspirations and original golden girls, to me she’s Dawnie, to everyone else she’s an Australian icon. I’m so grateful for her and my mum’s friendship which has led to ours.”
