Japan Long Course Nationals: Yuuya Horihata Sets National Record, Ryo Tateishi Knocks Off Kosuke Kitajima in Sub-Minute Spectacle

TOKYO, Japan, April 18. THE final day of swimming at the Japanese Long Course Nationals finished with a bang as top-ranked times went up on the scoreboard early and often. A Japanese record also fell during the last session.

Yuuya Horihata clipped the Japanese record in the men's 400 IM with a swift time of 4:12.02. That swim wiped out the 4:12.41 set by Ken Takakuwa a year and a day ago. Horihata's performance easily moved to the top of the world rankings. Roberto Pavoni held the previous top time with a 4:14.55 from Great Britain last month. Additionally, Horihata moved to 15th all time in the event. Tom Dolan's 4:11.76 from the 2000 Olympics is Horihata's next target on the all-time list.

Kousuke Hagino (4:17.23) and Takakuwa (4:17.85) finished well back in second and third in the men's 400 IM tonight.

The first sub-1:00 times in the men's 100 breast this year occurred tonight in Japan, but it was a bit of a surprise which swimmer finished on top of the podium. Ryo Tateishi continued to serve notice to Japan and the world that the breaststroke is in transition in the country. Tateishi trumped Kosuke Kitajima this evening, 59.84 to 59.91, for the victory. Yuuta Suenaga picked up third in 1:00.30 to move to fourth in the world rankings.

Kitajima, who swept the breaststroke gold medals the past two Olympics, is still in a bit of a rebuilding year after taking time off upon the conclusion of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Natsumi Hoshi dominated the women's 200 fly with a top time of 2:07.27 to win by more than three seconds. Hoshi's time elevated her to the top of the world rankings, ahead of Jessicah Schipper's previous world-best of 2:07.66 from last month. Only two other swimmers have cleared 2:08 in the event this year (Ellen Gandy: 2:07.70; Samantha Hamill: 2:07.75). Hiroko Sugino took second overall tonight in 2:10.32, while Yai Watanabe earned third in 2:12.06.

Takeshi Matsuda rose to second in the world this year in the men's 200 fly with a 1:55.18 for the win. He stands behind only Nick D'Arcy, who posted a 1:54.61 in Australia a month ago. Ryusuke Sakata finished second in 1:56.06 to jump to third in the world rankings, while Kazuya Kaneda clocked a 1:56.34 for third tonight and fifth in the world this year. Japan has shown remarkable depth in the event this year with five of the top seven spots in the world rankings thus far.

Aya Terakawa vaulted to second in the world rankings this year with a 28.05 in the women's 50 back. Only Emily Seebohm has been faster with a 27.95 in Australia last month. Miyuki Takemura finished well back with a second-place 28.49, good enough for sixth in the world rankings. Shiho Sakai captured third in 28.60.

Junya Koga became just the fourth man under 25 seconds in the men's 50 back this year with a 24.86. The time ranked third in the world this year behind Liam Tancock (24.52) and Matt Grevers (24.72). Camille Lacourt is the only other swimmer under 25 with a fourth-ranked 24.87 in France. Ryosuke Irie finished second tonight in 25.16, while Yamato Ujibayashi earned third in 25.90.

Chika Yonenaga won the women's 1500 free in a time of 16:21.57. That effort moved her up to third in the world rankings this year. Yumi Kida took second in 16:27.81 to move to seventh in the world, while Ayano Koguchi placed third in 16:30.77 to grab the 10 spot in the rankings.

Yousuke Miyamoto topped the men's 800 free in 7:57.93 to become just the fifth man to clear 7:58 this year. Kenichi Doki touched second in 8:00.15, while Junpei Higashi rounded out the top three in 8:01.50.

Izumi Katou (4:39.76) and Miho Takahashi (4:39.87) jumped into the top five in the world rankings in the women's 400 IM tonight. Only five other swimmers have cleared 4:40 thus far this year with Stephanie Rice leading the way with a 4:35.04. Miyu Ohtsuka finished third tonight in 4:43.13.

Satomi Suzuki joined just five other swimmers to beat 1:08 this year in the women's 100 breast with a 1:07.64. The time moved her to fourth in the world behind Leisel Jones (1:05.79), Rebecca Soni (1:06.43) and Samantha Marshall (1:07.45). Mina Matsushima took second in 1:08.44, while Fumiko Kawanabe claimed third in 1:08.45.

Haruka Ueda captured the women's 100 free title in 54.87 less than half-a-second back of Misaki Yamaguchi's Japanese record of 54.43 set last September. Yayoi Matsumoto placed second in 55.33, while Tomoko Hagiwara finished third in 56.01.

Takurou Fujii cruised to victory in the men's 100 free with a 49.21. Yoshihiro Okumura finished second in 49.65, while Ranmaru Harada touched third in 49.67.

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