Summer McIntosh, the current world record-holder in the women’s 400-meter freestyle event, did not qualify for the A final at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, California. During the morning heat, McIntosh was in contention to secure the second position behind Australia’s Lani Pallister but was narrowly out-touched, finishing third in the heat and ninth overall with a time of 4 minutes 8.56 seconds, which is 14 seconds slower than her record-setting time. China’s 15-year-old swimmer, Fan Yaqi, clinched the eighth and final spot for the upcoming final with a time of 4:08.36 scheduled for 10:07 p.m. ET.
Acknowledging her performance, the 19-year-old Canadian athlete from Toronto expressed her accountability for misjudging the heats and confirmed her participation in the B final at 10:01 p.m. alongside her teammate Ella Cosgrove, who secured the 13th spot overall. The live streaming of the event can be accessed on CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.
In June, McIntosh set a new record time of 3:54.18 at the Canadian swimming trials in Victoria, surpassing the previous record held by the retired Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus. The anticipated A final at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center featured a showdown between American record-holder Katie Ledecky, Lani Pallister, and McIntosh. Ledecky emerged as the top qualifier with a time of 4:03.48, while Pallister secured the fourth spot with a time of 4:05.22.
Starting off her Pan Pacifics debut with a silver in the women’s 200-meter freestyle, McIntosh clocked 1:53.86, finishing closely behind Pallister, who set a championship record of 1:53.67. She continued her success by breaking the championship record in the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 4:28.01 and also contributed to winning a bronze in the women’s 200 free relay alongside Mary-Sophie Harvey, Emma O’Croiniin, and Brooklyn Douthwright.
Looking ahead, McIntosh is set to compete in the 200 IM event on Saturday.