Canada’s Kylie Masse qualifies in fifth place for 50-metre backstroke final

WINDSOR, Ont. — Canadian Kylie Masse continued her solid performance at the FINA world short-course swimming championships on Friday by qualifying for the 50-metre backstroke final.

The 20-year-old Windsor, Ont., native finished fifth in Friday’s semifinal in 26.34 seconds, lowering her own Canadian record set earlier in the meet and advancing to Saturday’s final.

Etiene Medeiros of Brazil was first, qualifying in 26.00.

“I don’t know how to describe it but tonight felt a lot smoother (than the morning),” said Masse, who had the fourth-fastest qualifying time at 26.57 in her morning heat. “I’m happy with that.”

Masse won silver in the 100 backstroke at the meet on Wednesday, the same distance in which she captured bronze at the Rio Olympic Games this summer. 

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Rachel Nicol of Lethbridge, Alta., qualified for Saturday’s 100 breaststroke final, turning in a personal best time of 1:05.15 in her semi for an overall sixth-place finish. The top eight swimmers advance to the final. 

“I’m just enjoying the experience. It’s my first ever world final long course or short so coming off the final from Rio I think it will be fun just to kind of enjoy the home crowd and atmosphere and really take it in,” Nicol said. “I love this pool because it’s in a hockey rink and there’s so many lights and the music is awesome so I’m really excited just to see the atmosphere really.”

Kierra Smith of West Kelowna, B.C., finished 12th in 1:05.45, also a personal best.

Earlier in the evening, Katerine Savard of Pont-Rouge, Que., finished sixth in the women’s 50 butterfly final in a time of 25.51, a quarter-second faster than her best time and 0.09 off the Canadian record set by Noemie Thomas in 2012.

“It’s just proof I’m capable of getting off to an even faster start tomorrow,” said Savard, an Olympic bronze medallist in the 4×200 freestyle relay.

The world short-course championships run through Sunday.

Canada’s total of four medals is the most since the 2004 championships in Indianapolis. Canada’s best ever medal total was eight in Hong Kong in 1999.

The Canadian Press