Peaty Cracks 27, Ikee Doubles Up On Day Of Japan Open

JAPAN OPEN 2017

Day 2 of the Japan Open continued with Japan’s biggest stars going head-to-head with Great Britain’s, along with some Chinese and Australians in the mix.

After a sub-59 second performance in the 100 on day 1, British breaststroke dynamo Adam Peaty was back in action today in the 50 breaststroke. Peaty clocked 26.94, well off his season-best of 26.48 but a quick swim nonetheless. Peaty finished with over a half-second margin over runner-up Yasuhiro Koseki of Japan, who clocked 27.44. China’s Yan Zibei took 3rd in 27.53.

Other Brits collecting wins on day 2 were 2015 World Champion James Guy and Ben Proud. Guy, coming off tying his PB in the 200 fly yesterday, took the win in the men’s 400 freestyle in a time of 3:46.61. Naito Ehara held a three-second lead at the halfway mark, but Guy slightly negative split the race to storm home in 1:53.27 to take the win over Ehara (3:47.57).

Proud won the 50 fly by three tenths over Takeshi Kawamoto, 23.31 to 23.66. Duncan Scott was also in action on day 2, swimming the 100 freestyle in what was a closely contested affair. Shinri ShiouraKatsumi Nakamura and Scott were all within 0.04 of each other, with Shioura taking the win in 48.82. Nakamura was 2nd in 48.84, and Scott was 3rd in 48.86.

400 IM Olympic champ Kosuke Hagino was also in the 100 free placing 5th (49.57), not long after he took third in a stacked 400 IM final. Hagino and countrymen Daiya Seto and Takeharu Fujimori were all together 200m in before Seto pulled away on the breaststroke to take the win in 4:10.18. Fujimori was 2nd in 4:10.90, Hagino 3rd in 4:11.53, and 200 breast world record holder Ippei Watanabe unleashed a 1:08.27 breast leg to run down Britain’s Max Litchfield for 4th in 4:16.91.

On the women’s side, Rikako Ikee continued her strong showing after winning the 200 free on day 1, doubling up in the women’s 50 fly and 100 free.

In the 50 fly she clocked a blistering 25.78, just off her season-best of 25.51 that ranks her 2nd in the world to Swedish world record holder Sarah SjostromSayuki Ouchi took 2nd in 26.63, and Britain’s Alys Thomas was 3rd in 26.78.

In the 100 free Ikee put up a time of 54.57 to defeat countrywomen Tomomi Aoki (54.90) and Ouchi (55.09).

Another notable race on the women’s side was the 400 IM, where Japan’s Yui Ohhashi (4:36.48) defeated countrywoman Sakiko Shimizu (4:37.78) and Britain’s Hannah Miley (4:38.32). Ohhashi currently sits atop the world rankings with her 4:31.42 from April, making her a premier contender in the race at the upcoming World Championships.

Other winners on day 2:

  • GBR’s Imogen Clark topped Satomi Suzuki (JPN) and Sarah Vasey (GBR) in the women’s 50 breast, 30.63 to 30.82 and 30.87.
  • Chihiro Igarashi won the women’s 400 free in 4:09.37.
  • Rio Shirai (2:09.63) and Keita Sunama (1:58.56) were victorious in the women’s and men’s 200 backstroke. The men’s race was similar to the 100 free, where the top-3 were separated by mere tenths. Hayate Matsubara (1:58.63) and Masaki Kaneko (1:58.64) took 2nd and 3rd.

 

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G.I.N.A
7 years ago

42 Japan guys under 29 for 50 breast . ImpressiveMa y nations cannot find 42 ppl to do breastroke at all .

nuotofan
7 years ago

Fujimori is a 4.10 Imer and can’t be swimming at Olympics and Worlds because of the (in my opinion absurd) two per nation rule.
And if Ippei Watanabe will go on to improve in the next years, Japan could have 4 great Imers, but only two will swim at Worlds and Olympics.

Ouchi (2002) 55.09, Ikemoto (2002) 55.80: come Tokyo2020 Rikako Ikee could have a good squad to support her in the 400 free relay.

Also remarkable the 2.11.94 of Chinese Peng (2003) in the 200 back.

IMs for days
7 years ago

The Japenese seem to be in a great place for Tokyo. Ikee is a huge talent, as well as some other rising swimmers like Hasegawa and Ohashi for the women. Mens breastroke is great as always with Wantanabe and Koseki, Hagino and Seto seem set for another 3 years, Sakai has huge potential already swimming 1:53.7 this season and nearly beating phelps in Rio. There seems to be another golden age for Japanese swimming coming.

Wallaby
7 years ago

Imogen Clark goes a 1:12.35 100 brst and then a 30.6 50. That makes no sense

bobo gigi
7 years ago

And still off topic but for Lochte fans here’s a recent interview at US masters nationals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-QjolTJ-Pc

bobo gigi
7 years ago

Off topic but around 8 minutes 25 in that Katie Hoff interview, I understand she says that Elizabeth Beisel and Allison Schmitt have retired.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTkRDlRDBSQ

FightingIrish
7 years ago

Brits found this meet hard going. Wonder what the thoughts are on the camp/comp over all the missed training days?

Dee
7 years ago

Really impressed with James Guy so far this week. Best untapered 400fr as far as I can see.

FightingIrish
Reply to  Dee
7 years ago

James is a GOOD in season swimmer. He doesn’t always drop well. Lets see where he is in Kazan…

FightingIrish
Reply to  FightingIrish
7 years ago

*Budapest

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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