Taikan Tanaka Sets Japanese Record in 50 Butterfly; Mizuki Hirai Claims 100 Fly Title at Japan Swim
The first day of the Japan Swim, which is serving as a selection meet for this summer’s World Championships in Singapore, opened with a national record in the men’s 50-meter butterfly. Taikan Tanaka posted a time of 23.06 for the new standard, and a victory of .26 over Katsuhiro Matsumoto (23.32). The previous record was held by Takeshi Kawamoto at 23.13.
The women’s 100 butterfly featured a duel between Mizuki Hirai and Rikako Ikee. Hirai covered her two laps in 57.04, which was nearly a half-second clear of Ikee’s mark of 57.53. Hirai has committed to compete collegiately for the University of Tennessee. In the women’s 200 individual medley, 18-year-old Mio Narita, who has excelled in junior competition for Japan, posted a winning mark of 2:09.68. That swim established a Japanese high school record.
Five men cracked the minute barrier in the 100 breaststroke, with Yamato Fukasawa earning the title in 59.24. That time handed Fukasawa a narrow triumph, as Taku Taniguchi touched the wall in 59.30. Meanwhile,
Other victories were earned by:
Men’s 400 Freestyle: Kazushi Imafuku (3:47.77)
Women’s 400 Freestyle: Ichika Kajimoto (4:07.58)
Women’s 100 Backstroke: Miki Takahashi (1:00.71)
Men’s 100 Backstroke: Riku Matsuyama (53.99)