Nakamura Highlights Efforts at Japanese Nationals

TOKYO, Japan, April 9. THE big names that represented Japan at the World Championships in Melbourne were back in action when the Land of the Rising Sun held its National Championships in a four-day format. A handful of Japanese records were wiped out, with backstroker Reiko Nakamura taking care of most of the damage.

Coming off a bronze-medal showing at the World Champs behind American Natalie Coughlin and France's Laure Manaudou, Nakamura set a Japanese record in the 100 back with a time of 1:00.29, plenty faster than the 1:01.04 of Hanae Itou. Nakamura also won the 50 back in a national-record time of 28.36. She was fifth in that event at Worlds. Nakamura completed her sweep of the backstroke disciplines by winning the 200 distance in 2:08.85.

A week after winning the world title in the men's 200 breaststroke, in the absence of world-record holder Brendan Hansen, Kosuke Kitajima prevailed in the four-lap event with a time of 2:11.04. Hansen was sidelined at the World Champs by a virus he contracted after winning the 100 breast and claiming silver in the 50 breast. Kitajima added the 100 win in 1:00.34.

The bronze medalist in Melbourne, Ai Shibata took top honors in the women's 400 freestyle with a mark of 4:09.37, quicker than the 4:11.40 of Yurie Yano, who was second in the 200 butterfly to Yuko Nakanishi (2:08.75). Shibata again edged Yano in the 800 free, thanks to a time of 8:26.60. Other female winners included Maiko Fujino in the 400 individual medley (4:41.31) and Nanaka Tamura in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.57) and 200 breast (2:24.55).

In the male butterfly events, Ryo Takayasu set a Japanese standard in the 50 butterfly with an effort of 23.84 while Ryuichi Shibata won the 200 fly over Takeshi Matsuda, 1:55.48-1:55.52. Matsuda, however, set a national record of 7:50.93 in the 800 freestyle and won the 400 free in 3:48.68. Shibata also placed first in the 100 fly (52.30). The men's 100 free also featured a national record with a mark of 49.32 from Hisayoshi Satou. Other male victors included Tomomi Morita in the 100 back (54.51).

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