Ledecky cruises into 400m free swim final with Rio berth in sight

Katie Ledecky, limbering up for a potentially historic medal assault in Rio, cruised into the 400m freestyle final at the US Olympic swimming trials on Monday.

The 19-year-old juggernaut, entered in every freestyle race at the trials from the 50m through the 800m, clocked a modest 4min 02.62sec.

It was far from her world record of 3:58.37 or even her world leading 3:59.54 posted in January, but still put her almost five seconds in front of her nearest rival in her heat.

Leah Smith won her heat in 4:03.13 for the second-quickest time of the morning, with Olympic silver medallist Allison Schmitt third-fastest in 4:06.66 and Cierra Runge fourth in 4:07.12.

"Just had to get those first-swim jitters out of the way," said Ledecky, who has become a dominant force in the sport since her surprise win in the 800m free at the London Olympics.

"I'm sure everybody's been talking about it -- just getting that first swim under your belt and just getting into the racing feel and swimming in this environment. It's always exciting, so you just have to manage the energy a little bit.

"The important thing is getting the hand to the wall first or second tonight," Ledecky said. "That's what the goal is."

The cut-throat nature of the trials was on full display on Sunday, when Ryan Lochte, the 400m individual medley gold medallist in 2012, failed to qualify in that event as he finished third in the final while battling a groin injury suffered in the morning heats.

A hurting Lochte was back again on Monday morning, reaching the semi-finals of the 200m free.

Lochte, an 11-time Olympic medallist, posted the fifth-fastest time in the 200m free heats, 1.11sec behind the 1min 46.66sec of top qualifier Conor Dwyer.

Walking gingerly from the pool, the 31-year-old said he was feeling the injury, especially on the kicks coming out of the turns.

"It's a constant pain," Lochte said. "I just have to try to forget about it."

- Franklin safely into semis -

Missy Franklin, whose four gold medals at the 2012 Olympics included the 100m backstroke, was the fifth-fastest qualifier for the semi-finals in that event, seven-tenths of a second behind top qualifier Olivia Smoliga.

"My goal was to win my heat, so I did that," said Franklin, who has endured some disappointing results in the last two years and is ranked just 13th in the world in the 100m back this year.

Smoliga and Hannah Stevens both boast faster times than Franklin this year and will be trying to squeeze out the defending champion.

Stevens powered into the semi-finals with the third-fastest time of the morning, her 59.72 putting her behind Smoliga and Amy Bilquist (59.67).

Veteran Natalie Coughlin, the first woman ever to break a minute in the event, didn't duck under the barrier but made it safely into the semis with the seventh-fastest time of 1:00.75.

Coughlin, 33, owns 12 Olympic medals and with one more could break out of a tie with fellow swimmers Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for most ever for a US woman.

David Plummer, owner of the fastest time in the world this year, led the way into the semi-finals of the men's 100m backstroke in 53.22sec.

London gold medallist Matt Grevers was fifth-fastest in 53.98.

In addition to the women's 400m free, two other finals are on tap Monday night.

Dana Vollmer, the 2012 gold medallist on the comeback trail after taking time off to have a baby, is the top seed in the 100m butterfly final ahead of Kelsi Worrell and Sarah Gibson, while Kevin Cordes is the top seed in the men's 100m breaststroke final.