Ippei Watanabe Resets 200 Breast Junior World Record At Japan Open

Ippei Watanabe
Photo Courtesy: Xinhua/Yang Lei

The Japan Open continued its rich tradition of producing record-setting times on the final day of the meet, as Ippei Watanabe lowered his own junior world record in the 200 breaststroke to close out the meet.

Watanabe, 18, swam a 2:09.75 in the event to lower his own mark of 2:10.23 from June 2014. Though the time will be ratified as a junior world record (the best time swum by males 18 and under since July 2013), it’s not the fastest time swum by an 18-year-old man. Current world record holder Akihiro Yamaguchi (2:07.01) and world champion Daniel Gyurta were under 2:10 in the era before junior world records were kept.

Watanabe is not on any international rosters for this summer’s competition, but he will be one to watch for the 2016 Olympic team. He’s ranked 11th in the world and fourth among Japanese breaststrokers. Watanabe placed second in the event today in Tokyo behind the 2:09.51 by Kazuki Kohinata, his best time of the season and currently ranked eighth in the world. Yukihiro Takahashi was third with a 2:10.89.

Another Watanabe was on fire in Tokyo, as Kanako Watanabe cruised to a 2:22.13 to win the women’s 200 breast by a scant three tenths over Rie Kaneto. The two have been battling for supremacy in the event for a couple of years, and the two put on a show in Tokyo. Kaneto was behind by six tenths going into the final 50 meters and nearly caught Watanabe in the end. Watanabe has the fastest time in the world so far in 2015 with a 2:20.90, and she’ll be searching for history at the world championships with the elusive 2:20 barrier in her reach.

Daiya Seto wrapped up his stellar meet with a blazing 1:57.63 in the 200 IM final. It’s eight tenths slower than his season best of 1:56.82 from last month, but remains one of four men in the world to swim under 1:58 in 2015 (Kosuke Hagino, Ryan Lochte and Roberto Pavoni are the others.) Hiromasa Fujimori was on a mission to take down Seto, flipping even with him after backstroke, but couldn’t match’s Seto’s breaststroke and freestyle and settled for second with a 1:58.96. Fujimori is still chasing his 1:58.14 from last month’s nationals that has him ranked sixth in the world. Kosuke Hagino, the top-ranked swimmer in the world thanks to a 1:56.30, was third today in Tokyo with a 2:00.04.

Anthony Ervin wrapped up his visit to Japan without a win at the Japan Open, placing third in the 50 freestyle with a 22.69. Shinri Shioura got the win with a 22.04, while new 100 free national record holder Katsumi Nakamura was second with a 22.27.

Australia claimed one victory on the final day of the meet from Emma McKeon, who posted a 57.62 to easily win the 100 fly ahead of the 58.46 by Natsumi Hoshi. Rikako Ikee, the 15-year-old who set two national junior records earlier in the meet, was third with a 58.49.

Rika Ohmoto held off Hiroko Makino and Miho Takahashi on the freestyle leg to win the women’s 200 IM with a 2:12.05 to Makino’s 2:12.93 and Takahashi’s 2:12.95. Miki Uchida won the women’s 50 freestyle with a 25.14, while Yayoi Matsumoto took second with a 25.56 just ahead of the 25.57 by Australia’s Ami Matsuo.

Takeshi Kawamoto held off a late surge from Australia’s David Morgan to win the men’s 100 fly with a 52.08 to Morgan’s 52.44. The women’s and men’s 50 backstrokes featured wins from Miyuki Takemura (28.36) and Junya Koga (24.73). For Koga, it’s his fastest swim of the year and moves him to third in the world behind the dynamic French duo of Camille Lacourt (24.56) and Jeremy Stravius (24.70).

2015 Japan Open, Day 3 – Results

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Andrew Catchpole
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