Lani Pallister (centre) claimed gold over Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh (left) at the Pan Pacs. (Getty Images: Sean M. Haffey)
Australia's Lani Pallister has claimed a gold medal in the 200m freestyle final and a silver medal in the 1500m freestyle final at the Pan Pacific Championships.
Pallister downed Canada's Summer McIntosh in the 200m final, but fell short to Ledecky in the 1500m final.
Fellow Australians Sam Short, Brittany Castelluzzo and Ben Armbruster also claimed gold medals on the opening night of the Pan Pacs.
Australia's freestyle star Lani Pallister has collected gold and silver medals in her arduous opening to the Pan Pacific championships in the United States.
Pallister triumphed in the women's 200m freestyle and then set a personal best when finishing behind American legend Katie Ledecky in the 1500m freestyle in Irvine, California on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
Dolphins teammates Sam Short (men's 800m freestyle), Brittany Castelluzzo (women's 200m butterfly) and Ben Armbruster (men's 50m butterfly) also triumphed on the opening night of the Pan Pacs.
The Dolphins won four of 11 gold medals on offer, with Pallister's remarkable year continuing.
Sam Short claimed gold in the men's 800m freestyle. (Getty Images: Maddie Meyer)
Just weeks after winning four Commonwealth Games gold medals in Glasgow, Pallister pipped Canadian ace Summer McIntosh in the 200m final.
The Australian clocked one minute 53.67 seconds — just 0.02s outside her personal best in the event — with McIntosh second in 1:53.86.
About two hours later, Pallister then returned to the pool for the gruelling 1500m freestyle and set a her best time over the distance.
In what was essentially a match race against peerless American great Ledecky, who hasn't lost in the event in 16 years, Pallister put in a gallant effort.
Lani Pallister (left) and Moesha Johnson (right) were beaten out by Katie Ledecky (centre) in the 1500m freestyle. (Getty Images: Maddie Meyer)
The 26-year-old shadowed Ledecky, the winner of nine Olympic and 23 world championship gold medals, for the initial 500 metres.
