Canada's Masse, Wilm glide into 50M backstroke semis to respond from podium miss at worlds

Canada's Kylie Masse and Ingrid Wilm didn't like being fourth and fifth.

They finished in those spots in the 100-metre backstroke final, then were placed in those numbered lanes during their 50 backstroke heat on Wednesday in Fukuoka, Japan.

So they did something about it. 

Masse, the reigning 50 backstroke world champion from La Salle, Ont., stopped the clock about a half-second off world-record pace at 27.48 seconds. That was good enough for the second-fastest time across all heats, with the 27-year-old only trailing American Regan Smith (27.31), who took silver in the 100.

Wilm's time of 27.75 seconds was sixth-fastest overall.

WATCH | Masse reacts to fourth-place finish:

Meanwhile, Toronto's Summer McIntosh took care of business in the 200 butterfly, winning her heat at two minutes 7.91 seconds to advance to Wednesday's semifinals.

The 16-year-old is the reigning world champion in the discipline.

McIntosh now sets her sights on Wednesday's women's 200 freestyle final at 7:17 a.m. ET after winning her semifinal heat in 1:54.67.

"I'm happy," the 16-year-old Toronto athlete 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."

WATCH | McIntosh wins 200 freestyle semi:

Fellow Canadian Josh Liendo, 20, also impressed in heats, leading his 100 freestyle race through 75 metres before slowing and eventually placing second.

The Toronto native's time of 48.03 seconds was seventh-fastest overall. His semifinal takes place Wednesday at 7:26 a.m. ET.

Canada also qualified for the semifinals in the mixed