The start lists for day 1 of the 2013 World Cup in Tokyo, Japan have been released and for the first time since September, there will be a significant American crew there.
The USA will have over 80 swims on the first day alone, though the entries overall are heavily dominated by the Japanese hosts.
See the full psych sheets here.
The penultimate stop on this year’s series begins on Saturday, November 9th, and runs through the 10th.
The Americans won’t just be the Junior World Cup team, either. Many more juniors have, apparently on their own accord, joined the fray. That includes swimmers like Joe Molinari, Daichi Matsuda, Andrew Liang, Nicholas Silverthorn, Jeremy Babinet, Anthony Shen and Moriah Simonds – a group that seems to be largely representing the Pacific Swimming LSC.
There will be a lot of big American stars at the meet, however, both in the junior and the senior ranks, travelling as professionals or as a part of the official USA Swimming Junior Team that made the journey. Michigan commit Paul Powers, and Stanford commit Curtis Ogren will be among them, as will Olympic Trials finalist Becca Mann.
To see the full, official, US junior team competing in Tokyo and subsequently Beijing, click here.
There’s also a trio of American professional stars at the meet. That list includes Eugene Godsoe, who won two events at the last stop in Singapore; Tom Shields, who picked up a big series check on the Middle Eastern leg; and Anthony Ervin.
Aside from that, most of the usual suspects from the Singapore stop will return. Added to them will be a few more big names from the hosts, including backstroker Junya Koga, 400 IM world champion Daiya Seto, and double Worlds silver-medalist Kosuke Hagino. 200 breaststroker Akihiro Yamaguchi will be in Tokyo as well, meaning that the 200 breaststroke will feature the top two finishers from the Olympics (Daniel Gyurta and Michael Jamieson) as well as the World Record holder Yamaguchi.
It seems to largely be the younger ranks of Japan who are coming to this meet, as the more veteran guard is not well-represented. The missing names include Aya Terakawa, Kosuke Kitajima, and Ryosuke Irie.
The 200 mixed medley relay is going to be the biggest field we’ve seen, as a huge influx of Japanese club teams mean 48 entries. That includes two American relays (though no names have been attached to those yet) that will almost definitely break the American Record in the newly-anointed mixed 200 medley and free relays (if Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa’s old records are even going to be recognized).
and it’s Daichi Matsuda
Thanks!
Steve Morsilli of PLS and Tony Batis of PASA have made a fall trip to the World Cups every year for the last four years. They are trying to give their high school kids some international experience.
Cool to watch these young swimmers, especially Gunnar Bentz, Ella Eastin, Kathleen Baker or Katie McLaughlin who are stars in the making. Much better US women’s junior team than men’s team in my opinion.
Very strong Japanese team too.
Baker isn’t going since she was added to the Duel in the Pool roster. I’m also excited to see how Townley Haas does in the middle distance free after his huge summer. Another guy like bentz who is very tall and thin and has a huge potential.
You’re right about Kathleen Baker. She isn’t with the US junior team in the world cup meets. She prepares Duel in the Pool.
See the full psych sheets here. – wrong link