McIntosh bounces back with 400m medley win at Pan Pacs

Canadian Summer McIntosh flies to victory in the 400m individual medley at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California (Sean M. Haffey) World record-holder Summer McIntosh stormed to a 400m individual medley victory in the Pan Pacific Championships on Thursday, bouncing back from day-one disappointment in the 200m freestyle. The 19-year-old Canadian clocked 4min 28.01sec in a wire-to-wire victory, relentlessly stretching her advantage over the last 200m to finish 3.49sec ahead of Australian runner-up Jenna Forrester, who claimed Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow last month. McIntosh, who counted the 400m medley among her three gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was coming off a runner-up finish to Australian Lani Pallister in the 200m free on Wednesday. "Tonight I really wanted to attack the race. Coming off yesterday I was really pumped up," said McIntosh, who also owns three world titles in the event. "To be honest I'm not happy with that time still," said McIntosh, who posted a championship record but was more than four seconds outside the world record she set last year. "I know I'm capable of more but it's good to get the win," added McIntosh, who is now training in Texas with Michael Phelps' mentor Bob Bowman as she eyes an ambitious multi-event program at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Paris Olympics silver medallist Tomoyuki Matsushita won the men's 400m medley to give Japan a first gold of the four-day meeting that brings together top swimmers from non-European nations. Matsushita held off a charging Carson Foster over the final freestyle leg, winning in 4:06.75 with the American, who earned bronze in Paris, taking silver in 4:07.11. Bobby Finke was third in 4:07.59. The trip to Southern California also had Matsushita looking toward 2028, the 21-year-old telling the crowd that he'd be back for more gold in two years' time. Jack Alexy led a US one-two in the men's 100m freestyle, winning in 47.14 as Patrick Sammon touched second in 47.62. Brazilian Gui Caribe was third in 47.89. - 'Building for this' - Alexy said he was motivated by US teammate Chris Guiliano's impressive 47.16 to win the "B" final as he uncorked a meet record to win in the same pool where he finished seventh at the US championships in July. "Nationals was about building for this," Alexy said. Australian Meg Harris surged past American Gretchen Walsh in the closing meters to win the women's 100m free in 52.60, backing up her Commonwealth Games 50m-100m free double. The United States bagged both 100m breaststroke golds.  Rising talent McKenzie Siroky held off China's Olympic silver medallist Tang Qianting to win the women's title in 1:05.32. Van Mathias won the men's in 58.02, holding off Japanese teen sensation Shin Ohashi who was second in 58.54 -- a world junior record. Katharine Berkoff led Regan Smith in a US 50m backstroke one-two, posting an American record 26.90sec to add the 50m to her 100m triumph of Wednesday. Quintin McCarty made it five individual wins on the night for the United States with his 50m back victory in 24.51, and the hosts added one more in the men's 4x200m free relay. Luke Hobson and Aaron Shackell gave the United States a substantial lead, and Sammon and Gabriel Jett brought home the victory in 6:59.37. A hard-charging Australia were second in 7:01.10 and Japan third in 7:02.74. Australia produced a dominant victory in the women's 4x200m free as Inez Miller, Pallister, Hannah Casey and Milla Jansen won in 7:42.40, holding off a US team anchored by Katie Ledecky that finished second in 7:43.10. bb/pst