SINGAPORE — Summer McIntosh geared up for a swimming duel with American star Katie Ledecky, while Blake Tierney fell agonizingly short of the podium Friday at the world championship.

McIntosh races for a fourth straight gold in Singapore in Saturday’s 800-metre freestyle.

It could be the Canadian's toughest challenge yet as McIntosh needs to beat reigning Olympic champion and world-record holder Ledecky for another gold.

McIntosh posted the third-fastest time in Friday's heats at eight minutes 19.88 seconds behind Ledecky (8:14.62) and Lanni Pallister of Australia (8:17.06).

McIntosh and Ledecky will race in lanes beside each other in the final scheduled for 8:17 a.m. ET.

“Any time I get to race Katie, whether it’s in the 800, which I haven’t done in a while or the 400 or any event re

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