By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese correspondent
KUMAMOTO, Japan, September 5. RYOSUKE Irie became the second fastest 100 backstroker of all time with an Asian record in the event at the Japan University Championships held in Kumamoto.
Irie posted a scorching fast time of 52.24 as a relay leadoff. The swim smashed Junya Koga's Asian and Japanese record time of 52.26 set at the World Championships in Rome. Irie also moved behind only Aaron Peirsol, who owns the top two times in history with a 51.94 and 52.19 to his credit.
"I was shooting for it more than my individual race for tomorrow as I felt really good today," Irie said.
Irie completed the first 50 meters in 25.60, which is his fastest opening split ever. He then used his usual come-from-behind energy to power himself to the wall. At the World Championships, Irie finished fourth overall in 52.73.
Other winners included:
Men
200m free: Sho Uchida, 1:46.93
100m fly: Kazuya Kaneda, 52.77
200m IM: Yuya Horihata, 2:00.60
400m Medley Relay: Waseda Univ., 3:35.37
Women
200m free: Haruka Ueda, 1:59.41
100m fly: Natsumi Hoshi, 58.93
200m IM: Tomoyo Fukuda, 2:12.62
400m Medley Relay: Kinki Univ., 4:04.70