2018 KONAMI OPEN
- Saturday, February 17th & Sunday, February 18th
- Tatsumi International Swimming Center
- Prelims at 9am local (7pm previous night EST)/Finals at 6pm local (4am EST)
- LCM
- Meet Site
- SwimSwam Meet Preview
- Start Lists/Results
Our meet preview of the 2018 Konami Open highlighted the fact that 17-year-old Rikako Ikee has been making strides in the 200m freestyle and 200m IM events in addition to her bread-and-butter sprints, but the Japanese teen made a case-in-point in spades tonight. On day 1 of the Konami competition in Tokyo, the Olympic finalist cranked out a wicked-fast personal best in the 200m free, taking the gold in 1:55.04 for a new meet and Japanese national record.
Splitting 55.93/59.11, Ikee’s head-turning 1:55.04 outing crushed her previous NR of 1:56.33 set just over a year ago at the 2017 Kosuke Kitajima Cup. With her time tonight, Ikee moves into spot #10 on the all-time fastest performers of all-time in the event and represents the only Asian in that top 10.
For perspective, Ikee’s 1:55.04 tonight would have placed 2nd behind Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, ahead of USA’s Katie Ledecky, at the 2017 World Championships.
Ikee now stands as the top swimmer in the world in the event so far this season, easily overtaking the previous top-ranked teen Ariarne Titmus of Australia. That bodes well for Ikee with the Asian Championships and Pan Pacific Games both taking place later this year.
2017-2018 LCM WOMEN 200 FREE
RUCK
1.54.44
| 2 | Katie LEDECKY | USA | 1.54.56 | 06/08 |
| 3 | Rikako IKEE | JPN | 1.54.85 | 08/09 |
| 3 | Ariarne TITMUS | AUS | 1.54.85 | 04/05 |
| 5 | Charlotte BONNET | FRA | 1.54.95 | 08/06 |
See how Ikee’s record-breaking race unfolds below.
今日の200frです。
1.55.04で自己ベスト更新できました！
ありがとうございます😳✨
明日は50flyと400frに出場します
よかったら見てください！#コナミオープン2018 pic.twitter.com/5w8T0IO400— 池江 璃花子 (@rikakoikee) February 17, 2018
it is also an Asian record
It is incredible jump in improvement of personal best at 200 by Rikako Ikee.
Very smooth race. She significantly slowed down at third fifty but recovered nicely. She will break 1:55 barrier if focuses on this event. (0.74 26.97 – 28.96 – 29.75 – 29.36)
Whenever we are using prospective we should be careful to avoid misleading.
For perspective, Ikee’s 1:55.04 tonight would have placed 1st ahead Italy’s Federica Pellegrini and Katie Ledecky, at the 2015 World Championships. But at last Olympic Games 1.5 years ago it wouldn’t be enough to be on podium.
A strategic race is different to a clean water with fast but not overly close swimmers upsetting your equilibrium .
Still there are a few 400m youngsters who could be in the 1.55s this year .eg Bing 16 & Ariarne 17 & sprinters Ruck 18 & Olesiak 18 .
It looks like a lot of fresh blood in 200 free. But let’s return to this discussion in two months after CWG.
Her stroke is beautiful to watch – feels nearly effortless But so efficient . Jeeeeeeez
She is dangerous ………
WOW