2016 Japan Open: Day 1 Finals Recap

2016 JAPAN OPEN

• Friday, May 20th-22nd
• Tokyo, Japan
• Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center
• Prelims: 9:30 AM Local Time / 8:30 PM Eastern (the day before)
• Finals: 4:00 PM Local Time / 3:00 AM Eastern (the day of)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets (in Japanese)
• Results
• Meet Preview
• Day 1 Finals Live Stream (Japan Only)

Women’s 200 Fly

• Japanese Record: 2:04.69

1. Natsumi Hoshi, Japan, 2:08.55
2. Ryoka Hasegawa, Japan, 2:08.62
3. Sakiko Shimizu, Japan, 2:10.32

2015 world champion Natsumi Hoshi held on for the win in a very tight race with Ryoka Hasegawa, out-touchinger her by 0.07 2:08.55 to 2:08.62. Sakiko Shimizu touched 3rd in 2:10.32.

Men’s 200 Fly

• Japanese Record: 1:52.97

1. Daiya Seto, Japan, 1:54.14
2. Seijin Sakai, Japan, 1:54.30
3. Kantohi Yusuke, Toyo University, 1:57.54

Daiya Seto equalled his world #2 ranked time from earlier this year at the Olympic Trials to take the win over Seijin Sakai by 0.16. Seto won in 1:54.14, with Sakai close behind in 1:54.30. Seto led by over seven tenth of a second at the 150 before barely holding on for the win. After those two three men finished in 1:57.

Women’s 200 Free

• Japanese Record: 1:57.37

1. Chihiro Igarashi, Japan, 1:57.97
2. Leah Neale, Australia, 1:58.60
3. IkeKo璃花Ko, Japan, 1:58.80

Chihiro Igarashi came within 0.60 of the national record in the women’s 200 freestyle touching 1st in 1:57.97, with Australia’s Leah Neale not far behind for 2nd in 1:58.60. IkeKo璃花Ko was 3rd in 1:58.80.

Men’s 200 Free

• Japanese Record: 1:45.23

1. Cameron McEvoy, Australia, 1:46.41
2. Kosuke Hagino, Japan, 1:46.43
3. Gangwon Knight, Japan, 1:46.96

In arguably the best race of the night, Australian Cameron McEvoy out-touched Japan’s Kosuke Hagino by 0.02 for the win in the men’s 200 freestyle, 1:46.41 to 1:46.43. Hagino led through 100m, before McEvoy overtook him on the third length. Hagino closed the final 50 but it was not enough to catch McEvoy. Japan’s Gangwon Knight was 3rd in 1:46.96, and Australia’s Daniel Smith put up the 4th best time in 1:47.61.

Women’s 100 Back

• Japanese Record: 58.70

1. Au Hoi Shun, HKG, 1:00.70
2. Natsumi Sakai, Japan, 1:00.74
3. Belinda Hocking, Australia, 1:00.90

Au Hoi Shun of Hong Kong touched 1st in a very tight 100 back final, with Natsumi Sakai (JPN) and Belinda Hocking (AUS) right on her tail. Shun was 1:00.70 for the win, with Sakai (1:00.74) and Hocking (1:00.90) also getting under 1:01.

Men’s 100 Back

• Japanese Record: 52.24

1. Ryosuke Irie, Japan, 53.43
2. Masaki Kaneko, Japan, 54.05
3. Joshua Beaver, Australia, 54.08

Ryosuke Irie had no trouble picking up the win in the men’s 100 back as the only man under 54 seconds, touching in 53.43. A close battle for 2nd saw Masaki Kaneko (54.05) out-touch Joshua Beaver (54.08) by 0.03. Junya Koga settled for 4th in 54.83.

Women’s 100 Breast

• Japanese Record: 1:05.88

1. Kanako Watanabe, Japan, 1:06.75
2. Taylor McKeown, Australia, 1:07.48
3. Rie Kaneto, Japan, 1:07.66

The women’s breaststroke events were expected some of the best here at the Japan Open, and the 100 did not disappoint with many fast breaststrokers going at it. Kanako Watanabe picked up the win in 1:06.75 after going out like a rocket on the opening 50 in 31.59, while Australian Taylor McKeown (1:07.48) out-touched Rie Kaneto (1:07.66) for 2nd place by less than two tenths of a second.

Men’s 100 Breast

• Japanese Record:58.90

1. Yasuhiro Koseki, Japan, 59.89
2. Ippei Watanabe, Japan, 1:00.14
3. Kazuki Kohinata, Cenral Sports, 1:00.74

After going 1:00.00 in the prelims Yasuhiro Koseki managed to sneak under the minute barrier in the final clocking 59.89, with Ippei Watanabe not far behind in 1:00.14. 3rd went to Kazuki Kohinata in 1:00.74.