By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese correspondent
KUMAMOTO, Japan, September 6. DURING the final day of competition at the Japan University Championships, Rie Kaneto smashed the Asian record in the women's 200 breast.
Kaneto clocked in with a 2:20.72 to become the fourth member of the 2:20 club. She joined Annamay Pierse (2:20.12), Rebecca Soni (2:20.22) and Leisel Jones (2:20.54) as part of the exclusive club. Kaneto dropped a second and a half from her previous personal best time of 2:22.32 from the World University Games, which was the Asian record. Kaneto posted a front half split of 1:08.84 en route to the record.
"I am simply happy about the new Asian record, but feel like I left a bit out there," Kaneto said. "I was close to the world record."
In individual event swimming, Irie could not come close to his Asian record of 52.24 set during relay work in the men's 100 back yesterday. Irie won today with a 52.78, while Junya Koga placed second in 53.15.
Other winners from the final day were:
Men
1500m free: Yosuke Miyamoto, 15:12.83
400 IM: Yuya Horihata, 4:14.35
100 free: Ranmaru Harada, 49.27
100 back: Ryosuke Irie, 52.78
200 breast: Ryo Tateishi, 2:08.64
Kazuki Otsuka, 2:08.64
800 relay: Hosei Univ., 7:15.49
Women
800 free: Kanako Miyabe, 8:38.71
400 IM: Masami Uchikoshi, 4:39.05
100 free: Misaki Yamaguchi, 54.97
100 back: Shiho Sakai, 59.94
200 breast: Rie Kaneto, 2:20.72
800 relay: Chukyo Univ., 8:06.03