By Olivia Wile, Swimming World College Intern.
The 2019 Japanese National Swimming Championships kicked off today in Tokyo. This week, the swimmers will be competing at the Tatsumi International Swimming Center for a chance to represent Japan at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju.
Hiromasa Fujimori, fourth place finisher at the Rio Olympics in the 200m IM, will not be competing due to testing positive for the prohibitive substance methylephedrine. Neither will 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly national record holder Rikako Ikee, as she is being treated for Leukemia.
Today’s session included a new national record in the men’s 50m butterfly set by Kengo Ida, a three-way tie for sixth in that event, as well as an upset in the women’s 400m freestyle.
Men’s 400m Freestyle Final
Taking first in the men’s 400m free was Keisuke Yoshida with a time of 3:47.10. This time places him at fourth in the world. Just about a second behind was Naito Ehara placing second (3:48.07). In third was Yousuke Miyamoto with a time of 3:51.87.
Placing fourth in the event with a time of 3:52.20 was Genta Imoto. Finishing fifth, sixth and seventh and all in the 3:53 range were Ryo Nakajima, Syogo Takeda and Hikaru Matsumoto. Nakajima finished fifth (3:53.31), Takeda took sixth (3:53.78) and Matsumoto placed seventh (3:53.88).
Behind the field and finishing eighth with a time of 3:55.65 was Yuuki Yamamoto.
Women’s 100m Butterfly Semi-Final
Taking first in the women’s 100m butterfly semi-final today was Hiroko Makino. Makino got to the wall first with a time of 58.56. For comparison, Rikako Ikee’s national record is set at a 56.08. Just behind her, finishing second at a 58.60, was Ai Souma. In third with a time of 58.71 was Suzuka Hasegawa.
Just out of the 58 range was Anna Shinno finishing fourth at a 59.09. In fifth with a time of 59.12 was Chiharu Iitsuka. Taking sixth with a time of 59.25 was Sayane Ueno, she had the second fastest 50m split behind semi-finals winner Makino.
In seventh with a time of 59.56 was Aya Satou. Yui Yamane finished eighth (59.60).
Men’s 50m Butterfly Final
Between a new national record and a three-way tie, it was a short, fast and exciting race in the men’s 50m fly.
Coming in first was Kengo Ida with a time of 23.27. This lowers his national record of 23.40, set last year at this meet. His time swam today time ranks number two in the world this season.
Swimming the 2018 national record time of 23.40 and finishing second was Takeshi Kawamoto. Just behind him was Naoki Mizunuma placing third at a 23.42.
Yuuya Tanaka finished fourth with a time of 23.52, with Syunichi Nakao placing fifth (23.56).
All finishing at the 23.84 mark and tying for sixth were Masayuki Kishida, Takaya Yasue and Shin Miura.
Women’s 400m Freestyle Final
It was another exciting race in the women’s 400m free final. Dropping her time over three seconds from prelims, 16-year-old Miyu Namba took first in the event with a time of 4:09.39. She touched ahead of Chihiro Igarashi who placed second (4:10.89).
Also in the 4:10 range was Chinatsu Satou finishing third (4:10.95). In fourth, with a time of 4:11.16, was Waka Kobori. Placing fifth with a time of 4:12.34 was Aoi Masuda.
Finishing sixth, seventh and eighth in the event were Sayaka Kashiwazaki (4:13.54), Mayuko Gotou (4:14.42) and Mario Ishii (4:15.84).
Men’s 100m Breastroke Semi-Final
Two men finished sub-minute in the semi-final of the 100 breast. Yasuhiro Koseki finished first with a time of 59.65 with Yuuya Hinomoto taking second (59.91).
Only a hundredth off each other were Hayato Watanabe and Ippei Watanabe finishing third (1:00.11) and fourth (1:00.12).
Only a hundredth of a second separated fifth and sixth place as well. Yoshiki Yamanaka finished fifth with a time of 1:00.45 with Kazuki Kohinata at a 1:00.46. Placing seventh was Ryuya Miura touching at a 1:00.75. Kazuki Hayashi finished eighth (1:01.08).
Women’s 200m IM Semi-Final
Today’s session concluded with the semi-final of the women’s 200m IM. Taking first with a time of 2:10.51 was Yui Ohhashi. Finishing nearly two seconds behind her was Zika Oomoto touching second (2:12.03). In third with a time of 2:12.44 was Runa Imai.
There was another tie during today’s session, but this time for fourth. Sakiko Shimizu and Miho Teramura both finished with a time of 2:12.61. Not far behind them was Sao Yokota placing sixth with a time of 2:12.66. Miku Kozima got to the wall seventh (2:13.01) with Karin Isizaka finishing eighth (2:14.68).
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Congratulations
Let’s begin ?????♂️?♂️?♂️?♂️?♂️?♂️?♂️