Kosuke Hagino Claims Two Wins at 2017 Japanese Championships

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Kosuke Hagino continued to shine with top times at the 2017 Japanese Championships, while Suzuka Hasegawa delivered a world junior record and a top showing in the women’s 200 fly.

Men’s 200 Fly

Masato Sakai cruised to victory in the men’s 200 fly, stopping the clock at the 1:53.71 mark. Sakai’s time sits well beneath the FINA ‘A’ qualifying standard of 1:57.28.

Fellow Olympian Daiya Seto posted a qualifying time of 1:54.28, moving the duo to first and second in the world rankings for 2017.

Nao Horomura completed the top three with a 1:55.37.

Women’s 200 Fly

Suzuka Hasegawa delivered a world junior record in the women’s 200 fly final at a 2:06.29, good for first as well. Hasegawa’s times sits well beneath the FINA ‘A’ qualifying standard of 2:09.77 and propels her to first in the world rankings.

Hiroko Makino posted a second place finish of 2:07.15, also earning a Worlds berth, while Sachi Mochida was third with a 2:09.67. Japanese athletes now own three of the top four world rankings for 2017, with Makino’s 2:06.92 and Ryoka Hasegawa’s 2:06.95, both set at the Kosuke Kitajima Cup, sitting at third and fourth.

Men’s 200 IM

Kosuke Hagino continued his elbow surgery recovery with a top showing in the men’s 200 IM. Hagino pulled away in the final 50 meters to jump to the top of the world rankings with a 1:56.01. His time easily qualifies him for Worlds as the FINA ‘A’ cut sits at a 2:00.22.

Daiya Seto, who had edged Hagino in the 400 IM by a slim .01 seconds, settled for second and a time of 1:57.58, while Takeharu Fujimori took third with a 1:58.45.

Women’s 200 IM

Yui Ohashi continued to impress in the individual medleys, with a dominant showing in the 200 IM. Ohashi turned up the heat in the final 50 meters to pull ahead of Miho Teramura and secure victory with a 2:09.96. She easily qualifies for the Worlds team and moves to second in the world rankings, behind only Canada’s Sydney Pickrem’s 2:09.56.

Runa Imai grabbed second overall with a 2:11.51, while Teramura slipped to third with a 2:11.58. All three athletes were beneath the FINA ‘A’ qualifying standard of 2:13.41.

Women’s 100 Free

Rikako Ikee picked up her third win in the 100 free, stopping the clock at a 53.83, just shy of her own national record. Ikee dominated the race, leading from start to finish, and finishing a full second ahead of second-place finisher Tomomi Aoki (54.83).

Chihiro Igarashi was third overall with a 54.98.

Men’s 400 Free

Kosuke Hagino continued to shine and return to top form with a gold medal finish in the 400 free. Hagino, once again, blasted ahead in the final 50 meters, stopping the clock at a 3:47.30. His time sits beneath the FINA ‘A’ qualifying standard of 3:48.15 and moves him to eighth in the world rankings.

Naito Ehara, who was leading at the 350-meter mark, grabbed second with a 3:47.74, followed by Tsubasa Amai and his time of 3:48.99.

Men’s 50 Back

Junya Koga turned in the top time of the men’s 50 back with a 24.67 finish. His 2017 best sits at a 24.53 from the NSW State Championships.

Junya Hasegawa joined him in the top of the world rankings with a 24.78 finish, earning him the silver medal, while Mikito Ishikawa finished third with a 25.61.

Women’s 800 Free

Yukimi Moriyama topped the women’s 800 free field with a final time of 8:32.10. Moriyama picked up an early lead and never looked back, finishing well beneath the FINA ‘A’ cut of 8:38.56.

Second went to Chinatsu Satou and her time of 8:33.52, followed by Waka Kobori’s 8:38.27.

Women’s 50 Back

Emi Moronuki claimed victory in the women’s 50 back with a 27.98 for the gold. Miyuki Takemura turned in a 28.15 to finish second overall, just ahead of Natsumi Sakai’s 28.37.

All three athletes were beneath the FINA ‘A’ qualifying standard of 28.52.

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