McIntosh, 16, finished ninth in the preliminaries with a time of 4 minutes 8.56 seconds. The result left her well outside the eight-boat field that would contest the evening final, as she trailed the top qualifiers by more than four seconds. The performance occurred the same day after she earned two medals in Thursday’s events, highlighting a challenging day across multiple races for the Toronto native.
McIntosh previously set world records in the 400 free and has been a dominant figure in junior and senior international meets in recent years. Friday’s setback marks a rare stumble at a major long-course meet, though it does not alter her status as one of the sport’s top young talents.
Canadian coaches and teammates noted the afternoon session’s strong field and the difficulty of qualifying for the Pan Pacs’ final round. The Pan Pacific Championships bring together swimmers from the Americas and parts of Asia and Oceania, serving as a key international indicator ahead of global championships.
McIntosh remains eligible for other events on the Irvine schedule, with her focus likely shifting to the next race opportunities and continuing to build toward peak performance at major meets. No changes to the Canadian roster were announced in connection with Friday’s results.
Event coverage continues as Canada eyeing further results in the Pan Pacific Championships, with McIntosh’s performance viewed in the larger context of her ongoing development and plans for the season’s forthcoming meets.
