Watch Out, Kitajima! Akihiro Yamaguchi Inches Closer to Japanese Record in 200 Breast at Junior Olympics

TOKYO, Japan, August 28. EARLIER today, Akihiro Yamaguchi continued an impressive taper season, making another run at Kosuke Kitajima's national record in the 200 long course breaststroke at the Japanese Junior Olympics.

Yamaguchi posted a 2:07.57 in the event, just .06 off Kitajima's record from 2008 that had once stood as the world record. It's a lifetime best time by 18-year-old Yamaguchi, who swam a 2:07.84 two weeks ago at the Japan Inter-high school championships. The following week, he handily won the event at the Junior Pan Pacific championships with a 2:08.03, which put a scare into Eric Shanteau's U.S. Open record of 2:08.01.

Today's swim by Yamaguchi, which is obviously a new Japanese high school record, keeps him third in the world behind the world record swim of 2:07.28 by Daniel Gyurta in the Olympics, and the silver medal swim of 2:07.43 by Great Britain's Michael Jamieson.

Yamaguchi's race pacing has not changed much in the past three weeks. He still has enough energy to power home in under 33 seconds, but is a little off record splits in his opening 150 meters.

A comparative look at Kitajima's national record splits, and Yamaguchi's splits from today:

Kitajima (2008): 28.91, 1:01.27 (32.36), 1:34.24 (32.97), 2:07.51 (33.27)

Yamaguchi (2012): 29.36, 1:02.19 (32.83), 1:35.21 (33.02), 2:07.57 (32.36)

Also today, Kosuke Hagino continued to shine in the backstroke events, posting a 53.82 in the 100 back today. While his 1:55.74 in the 200 back from yesterday puts him sixth in the world, Hagino's 100 back ranks just 19th, and well back of countryman Ryosuke Irie's 52.91 as the nation's best time.

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