TOKYO, Japan, May 25. THE Japan Long Course Open began today with a national record in the women's 100 backstroke and impressive performances from the world's fastest swimmers in the 200 butterfly.<\/p>\n
Aya Terakawa stunned the crowd by dipping under her own national mark of 59.10 in the 100 back — set last month at the Japanese Olympic Trials — with a 59.08. The time keeps her at No. 2 in the world behind Anastasia Zueva's 58.97. Shiho Sakai was well back in second place with a 1:01.62 and Emi Moronuki was third in 1:02.10.<\/p>\n
Natsumi Hoshi, who stands as the fastest woman in the 200 butterfly so far this year with a 2:04.69 from the Olympic Trials, won the event handily today with a 2:07.45. Second place went to Kei Hoshiba with a 2:09.34, and Hiroko Sugino placed third with a 2:10.01.<\/p>\n
Takeshi Matsuda, standing at the top of the world rankings with a 1:54.01 in the 200 fly from the Japanese Olympic Trials, nearly bettered that with a 1:54.69 today. That marks the third time he has been under 1:55 this year, and gives him the three fastest performances in the event in 2012.Only Nick D'Arcy (1:54.71) and Laszlo Cseh (1:54.95) have gone under 1:55 in 2012. Kazuya Kaneda was second in today's race with a 1:56.98, slower than the 1:55.39 he swam to earn a spot on the Olympic team. Takehisa Nakayama placed third with a 1:58.33.<\/p>\n
The women's 200 freestyle featured a two-woman battle for the win, with Haruka Ukeda taking the victory in 1:58.32, slower than the 1:57.41 she posted at the Japanese Trials for 12th in the world. Hanae Itou placed second with a 1:58.63 and Yayoi Matsumoto was third with a 1:59.81.<\/p>\n
Yuuki Kobori won the men's 200 free with a 1:48.31, ahead of three other swimmers who dipped under 1:49. Kosuke Hagino was second in 1:48.52, Syou Sotodate placed third with a 1:48.53 and Yuya Horihata finished fourth in 1:48.98.<\/p>\n
Ryosuke Irie claimed the men's 100 back title in 53.30, a shade off the 52.91 he posted at the Olympic Trials. Second place went to Yuki Shirai with a 54.43, and Yamato Ujibayashi placed third in 54.80.<\/p>\n
Asami Chida won the women's 800 freestyle with an 8:36.46. Marie Kamimura was second with an 8:40.63, and Sakiko Nakamura placed third with an 8:42.02.<\/p>\n
Yohei Takiguchi took the men's 1500 freestyle in 15:18.90, ahead of Syogo Takeda's second-place time of 15:21.54. Kohei Yamamoto placed third in 15:25.21.<\/p>\n
Satomi Suzuki won the women's 100 breast with a 1:08.07, followed closely by Kanako Watanabe with a 1:08.29. Mio Motegi was third in 1:08.52.<\/p>\n
Ryo Tateishi concluded the session with a win in the men's 100 breast in 1:00.45. He's been faster this year, with a 59.60 to his credit from Olympic Trials. Akihiro Yamaguchi finished second with a 1:00.95, with Yasuhiro Koseki placing third with a 1:01.07.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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