Canada's Katie Vincent races into Sunday's C1 200 final at sprint canoe championships

Defending world champion Katie Vincent posted the fastest qualifying time in the women's C1 200 heats Thursday at the ICF canoe sprint and paracanoe world championships.

The 26-year-old won her first world title last year, winning the C1 200 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Earlier Thursday, Vincent and Sloan MacKenzie of Waverly, N.S., finished fourth in their heat of the women's C2 500 and advanced to Friday's semifinals.

In the women's C1 500, Sophia Jensen of Chelsea, Que., advanced to Sunday's final after winning her heat in two minutes 12.82 seconds.

And Mathieu St-Pierre of Shawinigan, Que., won his semifinal of the men's VL2 paracanoe in 59.22 seconds to advance to the final.

WATCH | Vincent follows Olympic bronze medal with world title: