Summer McIntosh missed qualifying for the A final in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., finishing ninth overall in the morning heats with a time of 4 minutes, 8.56 seconds, according to CBC Sports. The 19-year-old Canadian world record-holder placed third in her heat behind Australia’s Lani Pallister and 15-year-old Fan Yaqi of China, leaving her 14 seconds off her record mark of 3:54.18 set at the Canadian trials in Victoria last June.
Pan Pacs 400m Freestyle Preliminaries and Field Standings
The morning heats at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center set up an unexpected field for the evening medal race. According to CBC Sports and The Athletic reporting, American record-holder Katie Ledecky posted the top qualifying time at 4:03.48, while Lani Pallister advanced with the fourth-fastest prelims time of 4:05.22. New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather secured the second-fastest qualifying spot at 4:04.50, according to The Canadian Press, and American Kennedi Dobson rounded out the top competitors for the A final. McIntosh finished ninth overall and failed to advance into the top eight, moving instead into the B final alongside teammate Ella Cosgrove, who placed 13th overall, as reported by CBC Sports.
McIntosh’s Meet Performance and Remaining Schedule
Despite missing the 400 free medal race, McIntosh has secured multiple medals earlier in the competition. According to CBC Sports and The Athletic, she claimed a silver medal in the women’s 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday with a time of 1:53.86, finishing narrowly behind Pallister. On Thursday, McIntosh broke the championship record in the 400 individual medley with a 4:28.01 clocking and earned a bronze medal in the women’s 200 free relay alongside teammates Mary-Sophie Harvey, Emma O’Croiniin, and Brooklyn Douthwright. Following her appearance in the 400 free B final, McIntosh is scheduled to compete in the 200 individual medley on Saturday.
Did you know?
Summer McIntosh set the world record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle at 3:54.18 during the June Canadian swimming trials in Victoria, eclipsing the previous mark of 3:55.38 set by retired Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, according to CBC Sports.
Athlete and Competitor Perspectives
Competitors weighed in on the competitive nature of the Irvine meet following the morning sessions. According to The Athletic, Katie Ledecky noted the rarity of high-level racing opportunities outside of major international championships, stating, “It’s not every meet where we get a chance to race like this; it’s really just about once a year.” Lani Pallister expressed enthusiasm for the racing environment, telling The Athletic, “I love racing. I love being eye to eye. I’ve gotten the best out of myself this week doing that.” McIntosh did not speak to reporters in the mixed zone following her morning heat, with a Team Canada representative stating she would address the media after her evening race, according to The Athletic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Summer McIntosh’s time in the 400m freestyle heats at Pan Pacs?
According to CBC Sports, McIntosh finished the morning heat in 4 minutes, 8.56 seconds, placing ninth overall and missing the top-eight A final.
Who posted the fastest qualifying time in the 400m freestyle?
According to The Athletic and The Canadian Press, American Katie Ledecky led the morning preliminaries with a time of 4:03.48.
What medals has McIntosh won at the Pan Pacific Championships?
According to verified reports, McIntosh has won gold in the 400 individual medley, silver in the 200 freestyle, and bronze in the 200 free relay.
When is McIntosh’s next scheduled event?
According to CBC Sports, McIntosh is scheduled to compete in the 200 individual medley on Saturday.
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