Sunshine Coast star ’stoked’ by ocean swim win

SUNSHINE Coast sensation Lani Pallister denied Harriet Brown a record seventh Pier To Pub crown with a stunning swim to claim the 1.2km open water race on Saturday.

The 15-year-old national age champion for the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle in the pool recorded a time of 11 minutes 45 seconds, ending Brown’s undisputed dominance in the process.

Brown, pictured, was racing to become the outright most successful swimmer in the female race’s history.

But the defending champion couldn’t catch a tearaway Pallister, finishing 12 seconds behind the rising star in what could be a changing of the guard in the female division.

“I’m pretty stoked. It’s such a prestigious event and I’m just really happy that I won,” Pallister said.

“To have this under my belt makes me excited for the future.

“I just thought I would stay with whoever I was next to, they were setting a pretty good pace and I thought if I was with them I’d go pretty well.”

American lifeguard Kelsey Cummings put in a solid performance to finish third.

Pallister said she had to overcome an “aggressive” start before finding her rhythm in the water.

“It was such a fast start and there was just people’s arms flying everywhere. I got swum over by a couple of the bigger, older boys but it was pretty intense,” she said.

“(I was just thinking) ‘don’t drown’.”

Brown, who sits alongside Naantali Marshall on the alltime winner’s list, said Pallister deserved all the credit for her performance.

“I felt good. It was a fast swim, as it always is,” Brown said.

“This year I was in a little bit more of a pack than I usually am. Lani is swimming so fast and she definitely deserved to win.

“She got away a little bit at the start and I could always see her but I couldn’t quite get past the people to get in front of her. It’s hard to get moving when you are in a little bit of a pack.”

Pallister also saluted earlier in the afternoon, claiming the junior girls title as well.

Pallister, who won six golds at the Australian Surf Championships in 2017, said she would one day like to swim at the Olympics.

“That’s the ultra long-term goal and if that was to happen I’d be the happiest girl alive,” she said.

“I swim 800m, 1500m freestyle at the moment, so a lot more of the distance swimming. I don’t have my heart set on any event I want to stick to for the rest of my life.”

Meanwhile, Sydney’s Zoe Whitfield claimed the women’s 5km race, finishing ahead of Kate Murphy and Jasmine Cash.