Summer McIntosh earned a gold medal Thursday night, defeating Jenna Forrester of Australia in championship record time in the women’s 400-metre individual medley at the Pac Pacific swimming competition in Irvine, Calif.

The Toronto athlete, who was on pace early on to lower her world record from last year, finished the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle in four minutes, 28.01 seconds. Forrester was nearly three seconds behind in 4:31.50 for silver, while Agostina Hein of Argentina took bronze (4:32.54).

American Elizabeth Beisel held the Pan Pacs record time of 4:31.99 since 2014.

“I wanted to attack the race coming off yesterday,” McIntosh, referring to a silver medal in the 200 free on Wednesday, told USA Swimming. “I was really pumped up. It’s good to get the win.”

In the 200 free, McIntosh touched the wall in one minute 53.86 seconds, nearly 2-10ths behind Australia’s Lani Pallister, who clocked a championship record 1:53.67.

“I don’t think I was out fast enough. My turns were still not right and I think I was just over-thinking it, rather than just racing,” McIntosh told Devin Heroux of CBC Sports post-race.

“You have to forget about it and focus on the next day and take it one race at a time, which is what I always try to do, good or bad,” the Canadian added Thursday.

McIntosh believed she was “capable of more” in the medley but happy she touched the wall first.

After the race, the Canadian national anthem drew a roar and much excitement from a throng of youths in the crowd.

“That group of kids up there [in the stands] is cute to see,” she said. “Even giving them a small wave, they went crazy. It’s an honour to give people a show every time [I race] and be part of that. I know all the swimmers here, that’s their goal.”

Later in the evening, McIntosh pulled Canada into third spot after two legs of the women’s 4×200 freestyle relay and Emma O’Croinin and anchor Brooklyn Douthwright were able to help keep Canada there for a bronze medal.

The Canadians, who had Mary-Sophie Harvey swim the opening leg, posted a time of 7:52.74, well back of victorious Australia (7:42.40 championship record) and the United States (7;43.10).

In the men’s 400 IM, Tristan Jankovics of Puslinch, Ont., and Calgary’s Lorne Wigginton were 7-8 in a field of eight. Jankovics clocked 4:14.14, with Wigginton 80-100ths behind him.

Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C., delivered a fifth-place finish in the women’s 100 free.

The 26-year-old stopped the clock in 53.16 seconds after going 53.69 to qualify for the final at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center.

Meg Harris of Australia charged late, overcoming Gretchen Walsh in the final 25 metres to win in 52.60, 18-100ths of a second in front of the American sensation. Harris’s teammate, Olivia Wunsch reached the finish in 52.98 for the bronze medal.

Ruck grabbed three bronze on the opening day of competition Wednesday in the women’s 50 butterfly, 100 backstroke and was part of the 100 medley relay team with Ingrid Wilm, Oliver Dawson and Finlay Knox.

University of Calgary swimmer Alexanne Lepage delivered a 1:05.94 personal best, 2-10ths off the Canadian record held by Annamay Pierse (1:05.74) since July 9 2009.

Teammate Sophie Angus was also in the race and was seventh (1:06.70) following a 1:06.38 PB in the qualifiers.

Recently, the 27-year-old captured her first individual Commonwealth Games medal, tying for third in the women’s 50 breaststroke. Angus was born in Connecticut, but her parents are Canadian.

Other Canadian results:

• Ingrid Wilm, Calgary (women’s 50m backstroke) — 5th, 27.93 seconds
• Oliver Dawson, Grande Prairie, Alta. (men’s 100 breaststroke) — 6th, 59.85
• Javier Acevedo, Toronto (men’s 50 backstroke) — 8th, 25.45
• Canada (men’s 200m freestyle relay) Ethan Ekk, Finlay Knox, Francis Brennan, Lorne Wigginton — 4th, 7:09.91
• Canada 2 (men’s 200 free relay) Laon Kim, Tristan Jankovics, Jordi Vilchez, Antoine Sauve — 6th, 7:17.75