2018 FINA World Cup Tokyo: World And National Records Tumble In Day One Finals

vladimir-morozov
Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini

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The 2018 FINA World Cup Tokyo stop saw several records fall during the first night of finals, including new world and world cup records from Russian Vlad Morozov and a tight backstroke race between Xu Jiayu and Mitch Larkin that resulted in a new national record.

Live Results

Women’s 400 Freestyle

Dutchwoman Femke Heemskerk won the 400 free title to open the Tokyo stop of the World Cup, posting a 4:01.29 for a convincing win. That improved on her silver medal time of 4:02.24 from the Beijing stop last week. In second was Miyu Nanba (4:03.80), followed by Natsumi Shibata (4:04.20).  

Men’s 400 Freestyle

Australian Olympic gold medalist Mack Horton almost hit his season best in the men’s 400 free, posting a 3:40.58 for the win from lane one. That is a nice rebound from Horton’s performance at the 2018 Australian Short Course Championships, where he was fourth in 3:45.56. In second was Kosuke Hagino (3:42.24) and Mykhailo Romanchuk (3:42.63).

Women’s 100 IM

Katinka Hosszu was not able to match her top ranked time from prelims (57.06), but was still able to grab a win in 57.25. Hosszu was just a touch quicker last week in Beijing, where she put up a 57.05. She was just ahead of Sarah Sjostrom, who was just .03 behind in 57.28. That is a hair off of Sjostrom’s Swedish record of 57.10 from last year. In third was rising Japanese star Rikako Ikee (58.17), followed closely by Siobhan O’Connor (58.35) and Emily Seebohm (58.94).

Men’s 100 IM

Vlad Morozov had a fantastic swim in the men’s 100 IM, equaling his own world record from earlier in the World Cup with a 50.26. He was well ahead of the rest of the field, outpacing second place Hiromasa Fujimori by over a second (51.58). In third was American Michael Andrew (51.59).

Women’s 50 Backstroke

Dutchwoman Kira Toussaint matched her winning time from last week’s World Cup in Beijing, posting a time of 26.21 ahead of teammate Ranomi Kromowidjojo (26.24). Just behind them was Seebohm (26.26), who was back in the water after her 100 IM swim.

Men’s 200 Backstroke

China’s Xu Jiayu set a new national record in the men’s 200 backstroke, hitting a 1:48.32 in a tight race with Australia’s Mitch Larkin. Xu led the entire race, splitting 27.38/28.02/28.08 over his final three 50’s. He was also out under World Cup record pace at the 100 (52.22). Larkin was just behind in 1:48.51. The two were well ahead of the rest of the field, as the only competitors under 1:50. Germany’s Christian Diener was third in 1:50.77.

Women’s 200 Butterfly

Hosszu added a second win in the 200 butterfly, grabbing the win in 2:03.01 over Zhang Yufei (2:03.50) and Germany’s Franziska Hentke (2:03.73). Hosszu was just off her winning time in the event from last week (2:02.88).

Men’s 100 Butterfly

Japan’s Takeshi Kawamoto was the top finisher in the 100 fly, taking the win over teammate Yuuya Yajima. Kawamoto was 50.28, while Yajima was just behind in 51.02. In third was Belarus athlete Yauhen Tsurkin (51.07). Notably, James Guy was fifth in the final here, posting a 51.10. Guy was the bronze medalist in this event at 2017 LC Worlds.  

Women’s 200 Breaststroke

Russian Yulia Efimova posted another win in the 200 breast during this World Cup circuit, posting a quick time of 2:16.29. That is 7-tenths faster than her time from last week, and her teammate Vitalina Simonova added another silver medal behind Efimova. She was 2:19.53 to also improve on her time from last week’s world cup stop. In third was Japan’s Reona Aoki (2:19.87), who was followed closely by Runa Imai (2:20.11) and Miho Takahashi (2:20.25).

Men’s 100 Breaststroke

Russian Kirill Prigoda was a touch quicker than last week in the 100 breast, hitting the wall in 56.58 for a narrow win over Yasuhiro Koseki (56.68) and Yan Zibei (56.96). Teammate Anton Chupkov was fourth in 56.99.

Women’s 50 Freestyle

Sarah Sjostrom improved on her season best for 2018 while grabbing a win over Ranomi Kromowidjojo, who won both sprint events last week in Beijing over Sjostrom. Sjostrom was 23.26 to just miss Kromowidjojo’s top time in the world (23.23), while also dropping a tenth off her own quickest time from the year. Kromowidjojo was second in 23.40, ahead of teammate Femke Heemskerk (23.69).

Men’s 50 Freestyle

Vlad Morozov capped off an impressive night of swimming with another record-breaking swim, taking down his own World Cup record in the men’s 50 free with a 20.49. Morozov snuck by the record from earlier in October by .02, improving on his top ranked time in the world. In second was American Michael Andrew (21.05), while Australian Kyle Chalmers was third in 21.09.

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