2016 Japan Open: Ikee, Kaneto Shine At Day 3 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)
• Live Results (English)
• Meet Preview

Women’s 200 IM Final

• Japanese Record: 2:08.45

1. Kanako Watanabe, 2:10.53
2. Miho Teramura, 2:11.52
3. Sakiko Shimizu, 2:11.93

In her first of two races in finals Kanako Watanabe got things off to a good start claiming the women’s 200 IM in 2:10.53, once again using her superb breaststroke leg to pull away from the others. Miho Teramura picked up 2nd in 2:11.52, with Sakiko Shimizu 3rd in 2:11.93.

Men’s 200 IM Final

• Japanese Record: 1:55.07

1. Kosuke Hagino, 1:56.13
2. Daiya Seto, 1:58.35
3. Keita Sunama, 2:01.07

Kosuke Hagino used his dynamic fly-back combo to put this one out of reach early, going out in 54.05 at the 100 and taking the win easily in 1:56.13. Daiya Seto had a good swim as well, going 1:58.35 for 2nd. Both Hagino and Seto were just off their world ranked times (Hagino 1st, Seto 4th) for the 2015-16 season. Keita Sunama was 3rd in 2:01.07

Women’s 50 Back Final

• Japanese Record: 27.51

1. Emi Moronuki, 28.14
2. Kaylee McKeown, 28.27
3. Stephanie Au, 28.53

Emi Moronuki fended off a tough battle with the two international swimmers in the final, winning in 28.14. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown was 2nd in 28.27, and Hong Kong’s Stephanie Au was 3rd in 28.53.

Men’s 50 Back Final

• Japanese Record: 24.24

1. Joshua Beaver, 25.30
2. Junya Hasegawa, 25.44
3. Syunichi Nakao, 25.45

Australian Joshua Beaver picked up the first Aussie win of the night in 25.30, just ahead of Junya Hasegawa and Syunichi Nakao. Japanese record holder Junya Koga opting to swim the 50 free over the 50 back opened this field up quite a bit.

Women’s 50 Free Final

1. Cate Campbell, 24.31
2. Shayna Jack, 25.02
3. Miki Uchida, 25.25

After her blistering 100 free that tied the 5th fastest performance in history, it looked as though Cate Campbell may slip under the 24 second barrier in the 50 free, something she has done on numerous occasions. She wasn’t quite that fast, winning in a still very respectable 24.31. Her teammate Shayna Jack went 25.02 for 2nd, and Miki Uchida was the first of the Japanese, 3rd in 25.25. Bronte Campbell didn’t swim in the final as only the top-2 non-Japanese swimmers make the final, and the B-final has no international swimmers.

Men’s 50 Free Final

• Japanese Record: 21.88

1. Cameron McEvoy, 21.61
2. Katsumi Nakamura, 22.26
3. James Magnussen, 22.31

Cameron McEvoy made it three wins in three finals here, taking the men’s 50 free handily in 21.61. Katsumi Nakamura moved up from the heats to take 2nd in 22.26, while James Magnussen settled for 3rd in 22.31.

Women’s 100 Fly Final

• Japanese Record: 57.55

1. Rikako Ikee, 57.57
2. Natsumi Hoshi, 58.94
3. Suzuka Hasegawa, 58.98

Rising star Rikako Ikee took off almost three seconds from prelims and moved up from 6th to 1st, winning in a quick 57.57. Ikee also took home the 50 fly yesterday. She finishes just 0.02 off her 14th world ranked time from the Olympic Trials. Top seed from prelims Natsumi Hoshi had a good swim taking 2nd in 58.94, and Suzuka Hasegawa also slipped under 59 seconds for 3rd in 58.98.

Men’s 100 Fly Final

• Japanese Record: 51.00

1. Takeshi Kawamoto, 52.36
2. Masayuki Kishida, 52.59
3. Masayuki Umemoto, 52.84

Takeshi Kawamoto claimed the tight men’s 100 fly final in 52.36, edging out Masayuki Kishida on the strength of a good back 50. Masayuki Umemoto touched 3rd in 52.84, just taking out Masato Sakai who was 4th in 52.85

Women’s 200 Breast Final

• Japanese Record: 2:19.65

1. Rie Kaneto, 2:20.93
2. Kanako Watanabe, 2:23.71
3. Taylor McKeown, 2:23.87

World #1 Rie Kaneto had an impressive swim to take the win in 2:20.93, faster than anyone (other than herself) has been this year. Kaneto set a new Japanese record at the Olympic Trials in 2:19.65. Kanako Watanabe completed a tough double taking 2nd in 2:23.71, just edging out Australia’s Taylor McKeown who was 3rd in 2:23.87.

Men’s 200 Breast Final

• Japanese Record: 2:07.01

1. Ippei Watanabe, 2:09.22
2. Daiya Seto, 2:10.05
3. Yasuhiro Koseki, 2:10.09

Ippei Watanabe had an impressive win in the 200 breast taking out some bigger names in 2:09.22. Daiya Seto had an impressive double taking 2nd in 2:10.05, while top seed from prelims Yasuhiro Koseki settled for 3rd in 2:10.09. Koseki edged out 4th place Kazuki Watanabe by 0.01.