The women’s 800 free relay closed out the second night at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships from Irvine.
Another battle between the U.S. and Australian women loomed heading into the day.
The Americans were seeded a half second behind the Aussies, but that didn’t matter in an event with different combinations of swimmers.
It was about who brought it in Irvine to close out the session with momentum at the halfway point of the meet.
The women’s 800 free relay closed out the second night at the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships from Irvine.
Another battle between the U.S. and Australian women loomed heading into the day.
The Americans were seeded a half second behind the Aussies, but that didn’t matter in an event with different combinations of swimmers.
It was about who brought it in Irvine to close out the session with momentum at the halfway point of the meet.
Erin Gemmell led off for the U.S. with the lead before Inez Miller overtook her on the last 50 of the opening leg.
Lani Pallister was next for Australia and kept a close lead over Anna Peplowski in the first 100 of the second leg. Meanwhile, Summer McIntosh pulled Canada within contention.
After the 1:53 split from Pallister, Hannah Casey took the third leg against Rylee Erisman and kept up the two-body-length lead before the anchors dove in.
Erisman used a strong push in the final 25 to give way to Katie Ledecky with the U.S. just behind.
Willa Jansen took the anchor for the Aussies and maintained that body-length lead into the final 100.
Ledecky tried to surge in the final 30 meters and was gaining into the wall but ran out of room.
“I was really happy with how I swam it. I could have used another four meters. I know we have a lot in store the next couple of years. We have such great depth that I will be fighting for a relay spot, which is awesome,” Ledecky said.
Australia broke the meet record in 7:42.40 despite being without a couple of mainstays on the national team.
USA finished second in 7:43.10, also under the previous meet record.
Canada’s Emma O’Croinin, Summer McIntosh, Mary-Sophie Harvey and Brooklyn Douthwright took the bronze in 7:52.74.
