Former Gator great Ryan Lochte lived up to the hype in the men's 400-meter individual medley Tuesday earning gold at the 2009 U.S.A. Swimming Nationals/World Trials in Indianapolis. In a comeback win, Lochte punched his ticket to Rome for the 2009 FINA World Championships later in July. A bronze medal by former Gator Caroline Burckle in the 400-meter freestyle topped off the first day of competition for the Gators in Indy.

Lochte, the 400 IM bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, battled it out with Tyler Clary through the butterfly and backstroke legs of the distance IM, but took the late edge in the last 25 meters of the breaststroke leg and finished a strong freestyle swim.