Ryan Lochte flirted with the world record in the 400-meter individual medley before settling for a gold medal and the year's fastest time at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships Thursday. The American led all the way and touched in 4 minutes, 7.59 seconds, lowering his own meet record of 4:08.77 set in the morning heats. Lochte was under the pace of Michael Phelps' world record through 150 meters of the grueling four-stroke race. But he fell away on the breaststroke leg. Phelps had the fourth-fastest qualifying time, but he didn't make the final because Lochte and Tyler Clary were quicker. Only two swimmers per country are allowed in the finals at Pan Pacs, the year's biggest international meet. Clary earned the silver in 4:09.55. Thiago Pereira of Brazil was third in 4:12.09. Lochte made it three golds for the meet when he came back later to anchor the Americans to a blowout victory in the 4x200 free relay, capping a night in which the US won seven gold medals, giving them a leading total of 12 through the first two days of the meet. Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay, Ricky Berens and Lochte won in 7:03:84 – a whopping 7.17 seconds ahead of second-place Japan. Australia was third. Nathan Adrian of the United States won the 100 free with the world's fastest time this year with 48.15 seconds. Brent Hayden of Canada was second in 48.19. Cesar Cielo of Brazil earned the bronze. Natalie Coughlin made it a 100 free double for the Americans by taking the women's event. The 11-time Olympic medalist touched in 53.67, lowering the meet record of 53.76 set by American Amanda Weir in 2006. American Dana Vollmer and Emily Seebohm of Australia tied for the silver at 53.96. Vollmer returned later to lead off the victorious US team in the 4x200 free relay. She, Morgan Scroggy, Katie Hoff and Allison Schmitt won in a meet-record 7:51.21. Australia was second and Canada third. World champion Rebecca Soni of the US led all the way in winning the 100 breaststroke in 1 minute, 4.93 seconds. Two-time Olympic medalist Leisel Jones of Australia took the silver in 1:05.66. Aussie Sarah Katsoulis was third. In the men's 100 breaststroke, two-time Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan won in 59.35, slower than his meet-record of 59.04 set in the morning heats. Christian Sprenger of Australia was second in 1:00.18. American Mark Gangloff was third in 1:00.24. Rickard of Australia was fifth. Elizabeth Beisel of the United States won her first international title, taking the 400 individual medley in 4:34.69. Samantha Hamill of Australia was second. American Caitlin Leverenz earned the bronze. Aussie Sophie Edington won the 50 backstroke in 27.83.
