Mission Viejo Day 3: Japanese Continue to Dominate

MISSION VIEJO, June 24. JAPANESE swimmers continued to dominate competition at the Mission Viejo Nadadores 2000 Swim Meet of Champions, winning four of five women's events and two of five men's events today.

Maki Mita led a one-two-three Japanese sweep in the 200 free, clocking a meet record 2:00.25. Masami Tanaka, who swam the second fastest 200 breaststroke in history in April at the Japanese Olympic Trials, won her specialty in 2:28.63, two seconds better than her teammate, Junko Isoda 92;30.69). Master swimmer wenke Hansen, 31, was tenth (2:39.95).

Sumika Minamoto added the 50 free to her triumph yesterday in the 100, touching in 26.05. Courtney Allen was right behind at 26.11. Finally, the Japanese team cruised to victory in the women's 800 free relay.

Kaitlin Sandeno prevented a complete Japanese sweep of the women's events when she took the 400 IM in 4:48.00, with Kristen Caverly a surprise second at 4:51.86.

NCAA champ Anthony Ervin won the men's 50 free in 22.88, just ahead of Jason Lezak at 22.93. Ervin, who is training this summer under coach Mike Bottom at the Phoenix Swim Club, led seven of his teammates to the wall: Eight of the top 11 finishers are training with Bottom's sprint group. Bart Kizierowski was third (22.99) with comebacking Jon Olsen, 31, fifth (23.54) and Gary Hall, Jr. sixth (23.59).

Chad Carvin set a meet record in winning the 200 free in 1:50.13. Trojan Bela Szabados, who led for the first 170 meters before Carvin overtook him, was second (1:50.64) with klte Keller third (1:51.89).

Japan's Kosuke Kajima took the 200 breast in 2:16.08, overhauling teammate Akira Hayashi on the final lap. Hayashi finished second (2:16.29) followed by 28-year-old Steve West (2:18.24), who finished third in this event at the 1996 US Olympic Trials.

Japanese swimmers swept the top three spots in the men's 400 IM, led by Susumu Tabuchi in a strong 4:20.06. Klete Keller uncorked a 57.36 final freestyle leg to move from seventh to fourth (4:27.49), followed by Carvin (4;27.57) and Erik Vendt (4:28.90).

Trojan Swim Club took the men's 800 free relay.

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