Katsumi Nakamura’s 100 Free Record Highlights Record-Setting Day At Japan Open

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

The second day of the Japan Open upped the ante for the host country as two senior national records and one junior record fell in Tokyo. The meet is featuring a contingent of athletes from Australia and Great Britain, while American Anthony Ervin is also in attendance.

Satomi Suzuki set the first national record of the day with a 30.97 in the women’s 50 breaststroke to lower her own mark of 31.04 set last year at the same meet. The time wasn’t good enough to give Suzuki the win, though, as Sarah Vasey from Great Britain took the win with a 30.83, not far off the British record of 30.56 by Sophie Taylor. Australia’s Georgia Bohl wound up third with a 31.21.

Jul 30, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Satomi Suzuki (JPN) reacts after finishing in third in the women's 100m breaststroke finals during the London 2012 Olympic Games at Aquatics Centre. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Katsumi Nakamura continues to have a stellar breakout season. After upsetting established sprint star Shinri Shioura in the 100 free at last month’s nationals with a 48.78, Nakamura claimed the national record in the event in Tokyo with a 48.41. That took down the five-year-old record of 48.49 swum in 2009 by Takuro Fujii to further Japan’s hopes of breaking into the international sprint scene. It puts him in a tie for eighth in the world rankings with Russia’s Danila Izotov. Shioura wasn’t far behind with a 48.79, while Australia’s Regan Leong took third with a 49.25.

Notably, Ervin posted a 50.29 for ninth place in the heats, and scratched from the 100 free B final.

A day after taking down the junior record in the 200 free, 15-year-old Rikako Ikee notched another mark with a 26.35 to win the overall title in the women’s 50 butterfly. The time resulted in a tie with Australia’s Emma McKeon. McKeon got an outright win with a swift 53.32 in the 100 free, her best time of the season and good enough for fifth in the world – but still third among Australians behind the formidable Campbell sisters. Miki Uchida got within three tenths of the national record of 54.00 with a 54.39 for second, and Kanako Watanabe took third with a 54.86.

Ryosuke Irie, the top swimmer in the world so far this year in the 200 backstroke with a 1:54.62, appeared to be on pace to eclipse that in the early goings of today’s final with a 55.59 at 100 meters. He finished with a solid 1:55.38, still faster than anyone has swum in 2015. Yuki Shirai was a distant second with a 1:57.47, while Masaki Kaneko took third with a 1:57.79.

Daiya Seto and Kosuke Hagino are looking to give Japan a 1-2 finish in the 400 IM at the world championships. Today, it appeared that Seto was in fine form to defend his 2013 world title, posting a 4:10.04 to win over Hagino’s uncharacteristically subpar 4:14.22. Hagino’s 4:08.54 is still the world best for 2015, while Seto’s time today improves on the 4:10.97 he swam last month at nationals for second in the world.

Sakiko Shimzu almost improved on her fourth-ranked placing in the women’s 400 IM with a 4:36.63. She’s swum a 4:36.12 already this year. Australia’s Keryn McMaster came within a second of her season best with a 4:38.38 for second, while Miho Takahashi placed third with a 4:41.69.

Kohei Kawamoto nearly got into the global top 20 in the men’s 50 butterfly with a 23.77 to beat the 23.94 by Takaya Yasue and the 24.05 by Kengo Ida.

Natsumi Sakai took the women’s 200 back with a 2:10.80, while Ryouta Nomura won the men’s 50 breast with a 27.90.

Australia showed off its distance swimming heritage with wins in the women’s and men’s 400 freestyle, though the competition from the host nation was tough. Jessica Ashwood and Chihiro Igarashi were neck-and-neck throughout the women’s race, but Ashwood got the win with a 4:09.30 to Igarashi’s 4:09.52. David McKeon used a come-from-behind strategy to win the men’s event, overtaking Naito Ehara in the final 50 meters to win with a 3:48.51 to Ehara’s 3:49.16.

Photo Courtesy: Swimming Australia

2015 Japan Open, Day 2 – Results

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wael

8 years ago

Very good