Another Good Night for Watanabe at the New South Wales Championships

Last night at the New South Wales State Open Championships in Sydney Kanako Watanabe posted the world’s top time in the 200 breaststroke. She was not able to match that feat tonight, but was not far off recording the world’s second fastest time in the 200 IM.

Watanabe won the event in a time of 2:10.76, which is only four tenths of a second slower than Katinka Hosszu‘s world leading time of 2:10.36. Emily Seebohm finished second in a time of 2:12.44, which is just off her season’s best of 2:12.06. Aisling Scott took the bronze in a time of 2:14.77.

Seebohm took the women’s 50 backstroke in a time of 27.64 matching her season’s best, which is the world’s top time. 15 year old Gabrielle Fa’amausili finished second in a time of 28.41 putting her fourth in the world rankings while Madison Wilson finished third in a time of 28.50 which puts her eighth in the world rankings.

Jennie Johansson won the women’s 50 breaststroke in a time of 31.04, taking over the top spot in the world rankings. Sally Hunter finished second in a time of 31.13 places her third in the world rankings while Watanabe finished third in a time of 31.33 which puts her fifth in the world rankings.

Emma McKeon had another strong performance in the 200 freestyle. McKeon took the event in a time of 1:56.41, which is just off the time of 1:56.32 that she recorded at the BHP Billiton Super Series. Her season’s best currently ranks second in the world behind Katie Ledecky’s 1:56.16.

Bronte Barratt and Brittany Elmslie had an incredible battle for the silver after the first 50 meters the two were never separated by more than 18 one-hundredths of a second. In the end Barratt finished second in a time of 1:57.10 followed by Elmslie who posted a 1:57.17.

Barratt and Elmslie’s times rank fourth and fifth in the world.

Takeshi Kawamoto took the men’s 100 butterfly in a time of 52.36. Kawamoto’s winning time puts him fifth in the world rankings. Daniel Lester finished second posting a 53.60 followed closely by Yuya Yajima who recorded a 53.63.

James Magnussen won the men’s 50 freestyle in a time of 22.34 which places him eighth in the world rankings. Matthew Abood finished second in a time of 22.48 which is the ten fastest time in the world this year. Katsumi Nakamuara took the bronze in a time of 22.51.

Thomas Fraser-Holmes took the men’s 400 IM in a time of 4:19.31. He was followed by Travis Mahoney who posted a 4:23.30 and Mitchell Donaldson who recorded a time of 4:25.68.

Ryo Tateishi won the men’s 200 breaststroke in a time of 2:12.89 which puts him ninth in the world rankings. He was followed by Yuta Oshikiri who finished in a time of 2:13.62 and Takatoshi Ikeshita who touched the wall in a time of 2:13.64.

Miyu Nakano and Haruno Ito had a great race for the championship in the women’s 200 butterfly. Nakano took the event in a time of 2:11.39 followed by Ito who touched in a time of 2:11.58. Georgia Barton finished third in a time of 2:12.93.

Wally Eggleton took the men’s 1500 freestyle in a time of 15:57.97 followed by Vernon Lee who posted a 16:03.27. Daniel Collins finished third in a time of 16:21.52.

Full results can be found here.