2016 Japan Open: Cate Campbell, Hagino Impress At Day 2 Finals

2016 JAPAN OPEN

• Friday, May 20th-22nd
• Tokyo, Japan
• Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center
• Prelims: 9:30 AM Local Time / 8:30 PM Eastern (the day before)
• Finals: 4:00 PM Local Time / 3:00 AM Eastern (the day of)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets (in Japanese)
• Results
• Meet Preview

Women’s 400 IM Final

• Japanese Record: 4:35.04

1. Miho Takahashi, Japan, 4:36.78
2. Sakiko Shimizu, Japan, 4:37.63
3. — Yuyo, Toyo University, 4:41.17

Miho Takahashi came within less than two seconds of the Japanese record to take the women’s 400 IM in a solid 4:36.78, with Sakiko Shimizu not far behind in 4:37.63. The top foreign athlete was Australia’s Taylor McKeown, 6th in 4:46.57.

Men’s 400 IM Final

• Japanese Record: 4:07.61

1. Kosuke Hagino, Japan, 4:08.85
2. Daiya Seto, Japan, 4:10.53
3. Takeharu Fujimori, MIKI, 4:17.19

World ranked #1 Kosuke Hagino improves his world leading time by 0.05, posting a very fast time of 4:08.85 for the win. Hagino will almost definitely be the favorite heading into the Olympics with no other swimmer cracking 4:10 since the 2015 World Championships. Two-time defending world champion Daiya Seto might have something to say about, though. Seto touched 2nd in 4:10.53, improving from 5th to 2nd in the world rankings.

Women’s 50 Fly Final

• Japanese Record: 25.95

1. Rikako Ikee, Japan, 26.05
2. Shoko Tanabe, Wells Ma down, 26.80
3. Hirayama Yuuki, University of Tsukuba, 26.84

Rikako Ikee came incredibly close to both the junior world record and Japanese record, touching in 26.05 to win decisively. The world junior record sits at 25.97, set by Canadian Penny Oleksiak at the recent Arena Pro Swim in Charlotte, while the Japanese record sits at 25.95 by Yuka Kato from the 2012 Japan Open. Ikee improves from 17th to 11th in the world Shoko Tanabe touched 2nd in 26.80.

Men’s 50 Fly Final

• Japanese Record: 23.45

1. Masayuki Kishida, Akurabu Chofu, 23.49
2. Takeshi Kawamoto, Chukyo University, 23.67
3. Shunichi Nakao, Okayama University, 23.90

Like Ikee, Masayuki Kishida came very close to the Japanese national record of 23.45, just 0.04 off in 23.49. Ryo Takayasu holds the record from 2009. Takeshi Kawamoto touched 2nd in 23.67, moving into a tie for 19th in the world rankings. Kishida moves into 10th in the world.

Women’s 50 Breast Final

• Japanese Record: 30.83

1. Satomi Suzuki, Japan, 31.35
2. Miho Teramura, Japan, 31.36
3. Kanako Watanabe, Japan, 31.38

Satomi Suzuki emerged victorious in a very tight battle in the women’s 50 breast final, as the top-3 finishers were all within 0.03 of each other. Miho Teramura was 2nd just 0.01 back in 31.36, and 100m winner from yesterday Kanako Watanabe settled for 3rd in 31.38. Suzuki’s time of 30.96 from the Konami Open in February has her 10th in the world.

Men’s 50 Breast Final

• Japanese Record: 27.30

1. Seijin Ueno, Waseda University, 27.52
2. Yasuhiro Koseki, Japan, 27.70
3. Nomura RyoFutoshi, Ogaki North SS, 27.86

Seijin Ueno came within reasonable distance of the Japanese national record in the 50 breast, coming up 0.22 short. Ueno won handily in 27.52 over Yasuhiro Koseki (27.70) and Nomura RyoFutoshi (27.86), the only three men under 28 seconds.

Women’s 400 Free Final

• Japanese Record: 4:05.19

1. Chihiro Igarashi, Japan, 4:09.36
2. Leah Neale, Australia, 4:09.98
3. Mochida HayaSatoshi, Japan, 4:10.43

Chihiro Igarashi and Leah Neale had a close battle in the women’s 400 free, with Igarashi coming out on top 4:09.36 to 4:09.98. Mochida HayaSatoshi was 3rd in 4:10.43.

Men’s 400 Free Final

• Japanese Record: 3:43.90

1. Gangwon Knight, Japan, 3:48.09
2. Daniel Smith, Australia, 3:48.25
3. Takeshi Matsuda, Japan, 3:48.40

Gangwon Knight led from the start and ultimately held on, albeit barely, to win the men’s 400 free in 3:48.09. Australian Daniel Smith stayed close all race but fell just short in 3:48.25 for 2nd, and Takeshi Matsuda overtook Yuki Kobori on the final 50 to claim 3rd. Cameron McEvoy scratched after going 3:52.87 this morning.

Women’s 200 Back Final

• Japanese Record: 2:07.13

1. Belinda Hocking, Australia, 2:10.58
2. Stephanie Au, HKG, 2:10.88
3. Natsumi Sakai, Japan, 2:10.94

Australian Belinda Hocking came out on top in a tight final, with two others within half a second of her winning time. Hocking won in 2:10.58, with Hong Kong’s Stephanie Au 2nd in 2:10.88 and Japan’s Natsumi Sakai 3rd in 2:10.94.

Men’s 200 Back Final

• Japanese Record: 1:52.51

1. Ryosuke Irie, Japan, 1:55.89
2. Joshua Beaver, Australia, 1:57.30
3. Haya Matsubara, ANA, 1:58.80

National record holder Ryosuke Irie clocked a very fast 1:55.89 to win the men’s 200 back, just missing his 5th ranked 1:55.42 from February. Australian Joshua Beaver touched 2nd in 1:57.30. Beaver is ranked 8th in the world with his 1:56.19 from the Aussie Olympic Trials.

Women’s 100 Free Final

• Japanese Record: 53.88

1. Cate Campbell, Australia, 52.38
2. Rikako Ikee, Japan, 53.98
3. Bronte Campbell, Australia, 54.11

Cate Campbell tied her world leading time from the Australian Olympic Trials in 52.38 to win this race easily, crushing the field by over a second and a half. Rikako Ikee completed an impressive double with a time just a tenth off the Japanese record in 53.98, and Campbell’s sister Bronte Campbell ended up 3rd in 54.11. Ikee improves her best time from this year by 0.01.

Men’s 100 Free Final

• Japanese Record: 48.25

1. Cameron McEvoy, Australia, 48.17
2. Katsu Nakamura, Japan, 48.54
3. James Magnussen, Australia, 48.75

Despite scratching the 400 free final, Australian Cameron McEvoy ended up slower than his morning swim of 47.88 in 48.17, but still pulled out the win. Japan’s Katsu Nakamura got within three tenths of the national record for 2nd in 48.54, and two-time world champion James Magnussen ended up 3rd in 48.75.