Josh Prenot on Prelims: Por Que No Los Dos? (Video)

^{reported by Mitch Bowmile.} 

MEN’S 400M IM

2016 Top seed: Tyler Clary (4:09.03)
World record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps
American record: 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps
U.S Open record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps
U.S Nationals record: 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps
JR World record: 4:14.07 – Brandonn Almeida (Brazil)
2012 Winning Time: 4:07.06 – Ryan Lochte

In a head-to-head battle that sets the pace for tonight’s final, Chase Kalisz got the better of multi-time Olympic medallist and defending 2012 Olympic champion Ryan Lochte in heat four of the men’s 400m IM.

Lochte was out quick in 56.06 to Kalisz’s 57.14 and extended his lead to just over two-seconds at the halfway mark with a strong backstroke leg. Kalisz took control on the breaststroke however, splitting a 1:10.26 in order to take control of the race with 100 meters to go. Despite a charging Lochte on the last 50, he held on to touch in at 4:11.86 to Lochte’s 4:11.98.

The two posted the fastest times during the ‘A’ flights and are expected to be the top two seeds following the completion of the ‘B’ flights later in the session.

Behind Lochte and Kalisz during heat four were Gunnar Bentz and Sean Grieshop who took the fourth and fifth seeds heading into tonight’s finals. Bentz hit hard on the breaststroke and freestyle legs to come home in 4:13.67, just slightly ahead of Grieshop’s 4:14.00.

The time for 17-year-old Grieshop broke the former world junior record held by Brandon Almeida of Brazil at 4:14.07.

Jay Litherland took the third seed overall after the ‘A’ flights with a very strong 4:12.57 in heat five. Litherland demonstrated a very impressive back-half highlighted by a huge freestyle leg that put him out in front to touch in at 4:12.57.

Josh Prenot, whose breaststroke prowess allowed him to come back strong on Tyler Clary who had the lead at the 200, was second in 4:14.19. His breaststroke split of 1:07.91 was the fastest of the entire field. Michael Weiss was third in heat five with a 4:15.21, Clary was fourth in 4:15.41.

This is the first time since the 2004 Olympic Trials that Ryan Lochte is not the top seed heading into the 400m IM final.

TOP EIGHT AFTER ‘A’ FLIGHT HEATS

1. Chase Kalisz (4:11.86)
2. Ryan Lochte (4:11.98)
3. Jay Litherland (4:12.57)
4. Gunnar Bentz (4:13.67)
5. Sean Grieshop (4:14.00)
6. Josh Prenot (4:14.19)
7. Michael Weiss (4:15.21)
8. Tyler Clary (4:15.41)

For official results, click here.