Kosuke Hagino posted a 4:08.85 in tonight’s final of the 400 IM at the 2016 Japan Open. That time is a .05 second improvement from his swim at the 2016 Japanese Championships, from which he already owned the top world ranking.
Daiya Seto was not far behind, finishing in 4:10.53, the second fastest time in the world this year, and an over two second improvement from his swim at the Tokyo Championships (4:12.98), which had placed him seventh in the world this year. Takeharu Fujimori rounded out the podium with a 4:17.19.
Cate Campbell tied her own world leading time in the women’s 100 freestyle, touching in 52.38. Sister Bronte was well off her 52.58 from the Australian Championships, as she touched in 54.11. Officially, gold went to Rikako Ikee in 53.98. Miki Uchida took second place honors with a 54.99 while Yayoi Matsumoto turned in a 55.14 for bronze.
Though well off his world leading 47.04, Australia’s Cameron McEvoy posted a 48.17, the fastest time of the night in the men’s 100 freestyle. Fellow Australian James Magnussen posted a 48.75. Katsumi Nakamura officially won the event with a 48.54. Junya Koga placed second in 49.65. Third place finisher Reo Sakata also slid under the 50 second barrier, touching in 49.80.
In the women’s 400 IM Miko Takahashi was just off her world’s eighth (4:35.55) with a 4:36.78. Sakiko Shimizu posted a 4:37.63, good for second, though two seconds shy of her sixth place world ranking. Yui Ohhashi touched third in 4:41.17.
Ikee touched in 26.05 in tonight’s women’s 50 butterfly, her second gold of the evening.. That time won the event by three quarters of a second, and is the twelfth best in the world this year. Syoku Tanabe finished second in 26.80. Bronze went to Yukina Hirayama in 26.84.
Touching in 23.49, Masayuki Kishida turned in the world’s seventh best 50 butterfly on his way to the top of the podium. Takeshi Kawamoto finished second in 23.67 while Syunichi Nakao placed third with a 23.90.
Satomi Suzuki out touched Miho Teramura 31.35 to 31.36 in the women’s 50 breaststroke. Kanako Watanabe was also out touched, as she posted a 31.38.
Masato Ueno posted the world’s 13th best 50 breaststroke tonight, as he touched in 27.52. Yashuhiro Koseki finished runner up with a 27.70 and Ryouta Nomura followed in 27.86.
Chihiro Igarashi was the winner of the women’s 400 freestyle, slipping under the 4:10 marker with her 4:09.36. Sachi Mochida won silver in 4:10.43 and bronze went to Natsumi Shibata in 4:12.79. Australian Leah Neale swam the second fastest time of the night with her 4:09.98 exhibition.
Naito Ehara took the men’s 400 freestyle title with a 3:48.09. Takeshi Matsuda stopped the clock in 3:48.40 for second place while Yuuki Kobori was third in 3:48.60. Australian Daniel Smith swam exhibition, with a 3:48.25, the second fastest time.
Exhibition swimmers posted the two fastest times in the women’s 200 backstroke. Belinda Hocking of Australia, the current world leader, touched in 2:10.58. Stephanie Au of Hong Kong was on her heels with a 2:10.88. Gold, however, went to Natsumi Sakai in 2:10.94. Mayuko Gotou took home silver in 2:11.24, and bronze went to Marie Kamimura in 2:11.78.
Ryosuke Irie was well ahead of the field in the men’s 200 backstroke, touching in 1:55.89. Hayate Matsubara earned runner up honors with a 1:58.80. Masaki Kaneko rounded out the podium with a 1:58.98. Australia’s Joshua Beaver posted a 1:57.30.
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