FUKUOKA, Japan – Ilya Kharun of Montreal and Summer McIntosh of Toronto will be competing for medals after advancing through semifinals Tuesday at the World Aquatics Championships.

Kharun established himself as a contender with a Canadian record in the men’s 200-metre butterfly, while McIntosh of Toronto qualified second for the women’s 200 freestyle final.

Meanwhile veteran Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont., and Ingrid Wilm of Calgary were fourth and fifth in the women’s 100 backstroke final.

World record holder Kaylee McKeown of Australia was the women’s 100 backstroke winner in a championship record 57.53. Regan Smith of Team USA took second in 57.78 and her compatriot Katharine Berkoff was third in 58.25.

The Canadians followed with Masse clocking 59.09 and Wilm 59.31.

“Obviously a little bit disappointed,’’ said Masse, who medalled in the event at the previous three worlds including gold in 2017 and 2019.

‘’I feel like I’m capable of going much faster than a 59 but for whatever reason it didn’t come together. I have to move forward. I have a lot of races left this week, so continuing to keep things in perspective and learning and growing as I go through the meet.”

The 18-year-old Kharun lowered his Canadian record to 1:54.28 to qualify third for Wednesday’s 200 butterfly final. He eclipsed the 1:54.49 he swam earlier this year.

‘’It was really a bit painful in the final 50 but it felt really good,’’ said Kharun, at his first World Aquatics Championships. ‘’I liked that race. I’m just happy that I dropped my best time. It’s definitely going to be a very tough field in the final I’m just going to have to hang in there for the Top 3.’’

McIntosh returned nicely from her fourth place in the 400 freestyle on Sunday with a 1:54.67 in the 200 free semifinal. Ariarne Titmus of Australia, the 400 winner, was the top qualifier in 1:54.64 and fellow Australian Mollie O’Callaghan third in 1:54.91.

“I’m happy,’’ the 16-year-old McIntosh said. ‘’The semifinals are probably the most stressful part of any swimmer’s meet because 50 per cent of people don’t make it back.

‘’You always have to stay on your toes to make sure that you’re pushing just enough but not overdoing it so you’re not too tired for the final.’’

Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivieres, Que., was 19th in the prelims in 1:58.60.

Dergousoff nears Canadian record with personal best

In the morning preliminaries, James Dergousoff of Christina Lake, B.C., clocked a personal best 27.53 in the men’s 50 breaststroke to rank 21st.  He just missed the 27.45 Canadian record held by Scott Dickens since 2009.

‘’I can’t complain with a best time and near the Canadian record,’’ he said. ‘’It would have been nice to get in that top-16. I’m definitely a lot less stressed than I was previously and a best time is a representation of that.’’

Eric Brown of Pointe-Claire, Que., was 28th in the men’s 800 freestyle in 8:01.41.

Viewers can catch the action live via the free CBC Gem steaming service, cbcsports.ca, and the CBC Sports App for iOS and Android devices, and watch broadcast coverage on CBC TV as part of CBC Sports weekend programming throughout the competition.

CBC Sports’ Devin Heroux is in Japan poolside keeping audiences up-to-date on the latest news and posting social videos daily.

Events are being live streamed across CBC Sports digital platforms, with a live swim show hosted by Anastasia Bucsis streaming daily on CBC Gem beginning Sunday for all final events. Finals start at 7 a.m. ET each day.

Full team list: https://www.swimming.ca/en/national-teams/senior-national-teams/fukuoka-2023-world-aquatics-championships/

Schedule and results: https://www.worldaquatics.com/competitions/1/world-aquatics-championships-fukuoka-2023/results?disciplines=