Kalisz and Lochte through at US Olympic swimming trials

Ryan Lochte eased into the final of the 400m individual medley Sunday at the US Olympic swimming trials, where Chase Kalisz led a bevy of young guns taking aim at the reigning Olympic champion.

The 31-year-old Lochte, who had second-thoughts after vowing he'd follow superstar Michael Phelps in dropping the punishing event from his Rio plans, posted the second-fastest preliminary time behind Kalisz -- the 22-year-old tipped by Phelps to rival his longtime foe Lochte.

"It was just a solid swim," Lochte said. "I didn't press anything to full potential."

Kalisz clocked 4min 11.86sec to edge Lochte in their heat, grabbing the lead on the breaststroke leg and holding on through the closing freestyle.

Lochte finished second in 4:11.98, and their times topped qualifying.

"He's a young buck," Lochte said of Kalisz, adding that the challenge of taking on younger swimmers was part of the attraction of an event which, Phelps noted this week, leaves competitors "no way to hide".

Phelps, who set the world record of 4:03.84 at the Beijing Olympics, predicted fireworks from a Kalisz-Lochte 400m medley showdown.

"I know they're both very tough racers, and I swim with Chase every day, and he trains phenomenally," Phelps said. "So it will be a fun, exciting one."

Kalisz isn't the only new blood to make the final. Jay Litherland, 20, notched the third-fastest time of the morning, winning his heat in 4:12.57. Gunnar Bentz, 20, and 17-year-old Sean Grieshop also advanced.

The top two finishers in each event punch their tickets to Rio de Janeiro in August, a pressure-packed system that Lochte has been through three times.

Phelps, whose 22 Olympic medals include an astonishing 18 gold, remains the star attraction of a meet expected to draw some 200,000 spectators over the course of eight days in Omaha, but the earliest he might race is the 200m freestyle heats on Monday.