Yui Ohashi Breaks 200 IM SCM Japanese Record in Final Tune-Up Ahead of ISL Debut

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Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant

The Tokyo Frog Kings will make their ISL debut next week on October 24, and many of their team swam one final meet in Japan before heading to Hungary for the ISL bubble. Four national records fell on the weekend as the Japanese team is looking strong ahead of the ISL next week, which already got underway this weekend.

Worlds medalist Yui Ohashi broke the national record in the 200 IM with a 2:05.09, which would have been second in yesterday’s ISL meet. Ohashi broke the old record of 2:05.29 as she has seen tremendous long course success in the IMs, winning silver at the 2017 Worlds in the 200 and bronze in the 400 in 2019. She finished ahead of Rika Omoto (2:08.01), who will not be in the ISL with the Frog Kings.

Ohashi also took the win in the 400 IM with a 4:24.87, which was quicker than yesterday’s ISL swims.

Worlds silver medalist Katsuhiro Matsumoto had an impressive swim in the 200 freestyle with a 1:42.10, breaking the Japanese record that stood at 1:42.41, which was also quicker than the ISL winning times yesterday (1:42.55). Matsumoto broke out in 2019 with a silver in the 200 free at the World Championships, as he will represent the Frog Kings next week. Konosuke Yanagimoto finished in second at 1:44.08.

Matsumoto took the win in the 100 freestyle with a 46.94, just ahead of Kosuke Matsui (47.19).

A pair of national records fell to Takeshi Kawamoto in the 50 and 100 butterfly. His 50 time was a 22.19, not far off the world record of 21.75, as he will be a big pick-up in the ISL. In the 100 fly, Kawamoto got the win at 49.54, which was faster than the 49.58 at yesterday’s ISL meet, as he won in a tight battle with Naoki Mizunuma (49.63), who will also be in the ISL next week.

The Frog Kings are named after General Manager Kosuke Kitajima’s nickname of “Frog King” after dominating the breaststroke races in his era. Japan has a rich history in breaststroke and have continued that into today. Yasuhiro Koseki won the 100 breast with a 57.40 while Ippei Watanabe won the 200 with a 2:02.91.

In the absence of Daiya Seto, who is serving a suspension, Yuya Sakamoto took the 200 butterfly with a 1:50.51. Reigning Olympic champ in the 400 IM, Kosuke Hagino swept the IMs on the weekend with a 1:52.73 in the 200 and 4:02.75 in the 400. Both times would have won at this weekend’s ISL meet.

Veteran backstroke Ryosuke Irie also won the 100 back with a 50.22.

On the women’s side Rio Shirai took three wins on the weekend, sweeping the 100 (52.87) and 200 free (1:53.52), as well as the 100 back (56.28). Reona Aoki will join Shirai in Budapest this week as she swept the 100 (1:04.47) and 200 breast (2:19.17), which will be very competitive in the ISL.

Miyu Namba, who will not make the trip to Budapest, won the 400 (4:00.64) and 800 freestyle (8:18.42).

Other winners on the weekend:

  • Men’s 50 Free: Kosuke Matsui, 20.99
  • Men’s 400 Free: Takeda Shogo, 3:42.37
  • Men’s 1500 Free: Hirai Takuya, 14:38.42
  • Men’s 200 Back: Edo Yuma, 1:51.76
  • Women’s 100 Fly: Suzuka Hasegawa, 56.39
  • Women’s 200 Fly: Karin Uchida, 2:05.49
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