Daiya Seto Continues Best Time Trend With 4:07.95 4IM At Sette Colli

2019 SETTE COLLI TROPHY

While competing on day 2 of the 2019 Sette Colli Trophy, 25-year-old Olympic medalist Daiya Seto laid waste to the men’s 400m IM field en route to clocking the fastest time in the world.

After establishing himself as the top-seeded swimmer of the morning heats with a time of 4:15.39, Seto threw down a menacing final mark of 4:07.95 for gold. That crushes Seto’s previous season-fastest and world #1 time of 4:09.25 he produced at the Hanamatsu Championships back in January, further distancing himself from the rest of the world’s would-be competitors.

In fact, the ANA swimmer’s 4:07.95 outing tonight represents a new lifetime best, slicing .05 off of his previous PB of 4:07.99 clocked at this very same meet 2 years ago. It was in that 2-man duel between Seto and Hungary’s David Verraszto where Verraszto logged the meet record mark of 4:07.47.

Verraszto’s meet record still stands, even after Seto’s reckoning, but the Hungarian had to settle for silver this time around in a distant 4:11.90.

Seto’s massive time tonight keeps him as the 8th fastest performer all-time and his performance represents the 25th fastest ever. His teammate Kosuke Hagino still keeps a lock on the Japanese National Record at 4:06.05 from when he won gold in Rio. Seto took Olympic bronze behind American Chase Kalisz in a time of 4:09.71, slower than tonight by just under 2 seconds.

This swim is simply par for the course for Seto this season, however, as the man has been a wrecking ball on his own best times resume. Besides trying out the 400m free and 100m fly events while competing Australia, nailing his first-ever sub-52-second time in the latter in 51.94, Seto has made major headway in breaststroke.

Seto fired of a big-time 59.79 at this year’s Japan Open to take the silver behind Yasuhiro Koseki, putting the world on notice that he is carefully crafting each and every leg of his IM to give American Chase Kalisz, the defending World Champion, a run for his money in Gwangju next month.

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GoGophers
5 years ago

Seto will go 4:05 at worlds with Chase behind him at 4:06/4:07

Beverly Drangus
5 years ago

Anyone know what goggles he’s wearing in the photo?

Definitely Not Sun Yang
Reply to  Beverly Drangus
5 years ago

Arena aqua force–mostly sold by Asian vendors

Heyitsme
5 years ago

He’s winning worlds for sure, but we will see. This might give Chase more motivation.

MTK
Reply to  Heyitsme
5 years ago

Why “for sure”? Chase’s PB is 2s under Seto’s, and a “bad” showing last summer for Kalisz in the 400IM was still right on par with the time Seto just put up.

I know everyone wants to get hyped about people putting up big in-season swims, but these swimmers (particularly mid-distance and distance) don’t always get a huge boost (time-wise) from tapering. Maybe Seto only goes the same time as tonight at WCs.

I expect it will be a good race, but in no way do I think Seto has it in the bag already.

Jabroni Pepperoni
5 years ago

How is a lifetime best “nearly par”

Dcswim
5 years ago

Seto is a man POSSESSED

Togger
5 years ago

He’s going to be tough to beat if that’s a fully in season time. Big challenge for Kalisz.

Mr Piano
5 years ago

Dude might win the 400 IM in Tokyo

Justin Thompson
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

Yes, Chase has some serious competition this summer.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Mr Piano
5 years ago

Unless Dresel swims it.

Cheatin Vlad
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

I think deep down Ol’ Longhorn is a big Dressel fan.

Hmmmm
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

The 4 IM? You kidding me, 2 maybe, 4 no way

Monteswim
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
5 years ago

I think you mean Dean

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