Pallister and Cotter both make it three in-a-row at Pier to Pub

About 5,000 people took part in the world’s largest open swim event, with about 20,000 spectators watching on from the shore.

Hayden Cotter and Lani Pallister both won the 1.2-kilometre swim for the third time running, despite both still being in their teens.

Pallister subsequently raced in both the junior and open events, with her time of 11 minutes and 44 seconds in the former the quickest time of any female racer in the Pier to Pub’s history.

Her time in the open race was just five seconds slower, as she finished two seconds in front of six-time event winner Harriet Brown. Brown’s second placed finish means in her past nine entries in the event she has never finished outside the top two.

Pallister said she racing against someone she had great admiration for made the victory all the more rewarding.

“I think I’ve raced Harriet three years in a row now, I grew up idolising her from a Surf Lifesaving point of view. Being able to race her at events like this is really special to me.”

Pallister said she was pleased to see fellow Olympic hopeful Cotter win the male event.

“Hayden’s at Maroochydore SLC and I’m at Alexandra Headland, he grew up racing my brother so he’s a year older than me but we’ve seen each other around for a while.”

Cotter also had some very difficult competition in the race.

He and Olympic gold medalist Mack Horton were side-by-side for almost the whole race, but as the pair approached the shore Cotter pulled away to take a four second win.

Cotter said he felt his past as a lifesaver had helped him pull away at the final stretch.

“You’ve got Mack who’s the Olympic Champion, of course he’s going to be a good swimmer but to come out and have him in a run up the beach is really good. Comes back to the Surf Lifesaving background it really helps in the run up the beach.”

Horton also said Cotter’s ability to transition from surf to sand so quickly was the difference.

“It’s fine but it’s frustrating, that’s four times I’ve come second now. I think I need the water finish to get my win because the running up the beach gets me…. but maybe one day I’ll do a bit of running practice and we’ll get it.”