With Michael Phelps having failed to qualify for the final
earlier in the day, Lochte swam under world record time for the first two legs
of the energy-sapping race before surging home in four minutes, 7.59 seconds.
Compatriot Tyler Clary touched second in 4:09.55 with
Brazil's Thiago Pereira third in 4:12.09 at the William Woolett Jr. Aquatics
Center.
Lochte, who clinched the world title last year in Rome where
Phelps notably skipped the event, began the race with a storming display over
the butterfly and backstroke legs before falling off the pace in the
breaststroke.
"I just went out fast and tried to hold on for dear
life," the 26-year-old told reporters on a night when the United States
won seven of 10 finals.
"I'm just going out there, having fun and racing.
Whatever the outcome is, I'll take it." World record holder Phelps failed
to qualify from his heat earlier on Thursday after competing in the event for
the first time since the 2008 Olympics.
Although the multiple Olympic gold medallist was
fourth-fastest in the morning heats, he was beaten by Lochte and Tyler. Only
two swimmers from each country were allowed to compete in the eight-man final.
American Nathan Adrian won a close battle for the men's 100
freestyle, powering to the finish in a Pan Pac record time of 48.15 seconds,
while compatriot Rebecca Soni produced the third fastest time ever in the
women's 100 breaststroke.
"You're putting every ounce of effort you have into
that last bit," said Adrian, who was in fourth place at the turn before
surging to the front to clock the world's fastest time this year.
Canada's Brent Hayden was second in 48.19 with Brazil's
world record holder Cesar Cielo third in 48.48.
"I did a good job of swimming my own race and not
letting what everybody else was doing affect me," added Adrian. "It
was time for me to step up internationally."
World champion Cesar, who scraped through into the final in
lane eight after other countries had reached their two-man limit, led after the
first 50 before being overhauled.
"I wasn't thinking about medals," the Brazilian
said. "I didn't feel I deserved to be in the final.
Soni held off Australian veteran Liesel Jones in the women's
breaststroke with a Pan Pac record time of 1:04.93.
Triple Olympic gold medallist Jones, who put on a strong
late surge, was second in 1:05.66 with fellow Australian Sarah Katsoulis third
in 1:07.04.
"I couldn't have asked for it to go better," a smiling
Soni said. "After the turn, I knew we were right together so I just tried
to look in my own lane and sprint to the end." Japan's quadruple gold
medallist Kosuke Kitajima won the men's 100 breaststroke with a time of 59.35
seconds, having also dipped under one minute in the morning heats.
"It was great I was able to swim two races today in
under one minute," Kitajima said through an interpreter. "I have been
living in LA since last April so I am really happy to win here." American
Natalie Coughlin triumphed in the women's 100 freestyle for a third successive
time at the Pan Pacs while Australia's Sophie Edington stormed to victory in
the women's 50 backstroke in a meet record time of 27.83 seconds.
The United States capped a highly successful night by
winning the men's and women's 4x200 freestyle relays, both of them with Pan Pac
record times.
Phelps gave the men's team a healthy lead of 1.46 seconds
after the opening leg and Lochte stormed home in the anchor leg to give the
United States an overall winning time of 7:03.84.
"For that race, you always want to get in open
water," said Phelps. "I got as much space for those guys as I could.
I just wanted to separate myself.
"This is our relay team from 2008 and we have always
swum well together."
