Katsuhiro Matsumoto Snares Third Freestyle Title at Japan Open; Tomoru Honda Shines in 200 Fly

Photo Courtesy: MIKE LEWIS / ISL

Katsuhiro Matsumoto Snares Third Freestyle Title at Japan Open; Tomoru Honda Shines in 200 Fly

As Japan prepares for the start of its home Olympic Games next month, many of the nation’s top competitors are partaking in a final tuneup for the action in Tokyo. Among those racing at the Japan Open is Katsuhiro Matsumoto, who registered his third victory of the meet on Saturday night.

With triumphs already notched in the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle, Matsumoto added the 400 freestyle title, a time of 3:46.88 granting him a comfortable triumph over Kaito Tabuchi (3:49.29). Matsumoto turned at the midway point in 1:50.95, which put him nearly three seconds ahead of Tabuchi.

The men’s 200 butterfly featured five athletes under 1:58, headlined by Tomoru Honda with a time of 1:54.59. That performance handed Honda a victory by nearly two seconds over Daiki Tanaka, who touched the wall in 1:56.43. In fifth place was Daiya Seto, who took on a back-to-back double in the 200 fly and 200 medley. Seto went 1:57.74 in the fly and finished third in the 200 medley in 1:59.30, where Keita Sunama prevailed in 1:57.81.

Yui Ohashi completed a sweep of the individual medley events when she topped the field in the 200 IM in 2:10.49. That showing followed a 4:35 win in the 400 medley from earlier in the meet. Meanwhile, Kina Hayashi (2:07.58) and Suzuka Hasegawa (2:08.02) produced strong performances in the 200 butterfly.

In the women’s 100 freestyle, Chihiro Igarashi edged Rikako Ikee. Taking the lead on the first lap, Igarashi covered the race in 54.14, while Ikee touched right behind in 54.26. Junya Koga (24.92) and Anna Konishi (28.37) claimed wins in the 50 backstroke and Miyu Namba was quickest in the women’s 800 freestyle in 8:33.54.

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