Ledecky gets her worlds started with easy win

Katie Ledecky of the United States opened an ambitious program at the world swimming championships with an easy victory in the 400-meter freestyle Sunday night in Kazan, Russia.

Ledecky, 18, was under her world-record pace until the next-to-last lap, touching in 3 minutes, 59.13 seconds to set a championship mark. Ledecky set the world record of 3:58.37 at last year’s Pan Pacific championships in Australia.

Ledecky, who is scheduled to enter Stanford after the 2016 Olympics, will be favored in the 800 and 1,500 freestyles and is a threat in the 200 free.