RIO DE JANEIRO _ Chase Kalisz, the training partner and protege of Michael Phelps, recorded the top preliminary time in the 400-meter individual medley at the Olympics Aquatics Stadium on Saturday in advance of the event's finals later in the day.
Kalisz, one of 30 first-time Olympians on the U.S. swimming team, finished in 4 minutes, 8.12 seconds. It's the fastest time in the world this year.
"I didn't expect to be anywhere near that time ever," he said.
In fact, Kalisz expected to swim about three seconds slower in the preliminaries. Instead, he outdistanced Japan's Daiya Seto, who will again be his main competition for a gold medal.
All 10 U.S. swimmers who competed in individual events Saturday advanced to the finals or semifinals.
That included Conor Dwyer, who trains with the USC-based Trojan Swim Club, clocking the fastest time in the 400-meter freestyle.
In the women's 400-freestyle relay, Katie Ledecky's blazing anchor leg helped the U.S. to a second-place finish behind Australia.
