Katsumi Nakamura’s Japanese Sprint Records Have Trickle Down Effect

Meet Results

Two notable freestyle records went down through 3 days of Japan’s Junior Olympic Cup (SCM) taking place in Tokyo this week. Perhaps inspired by senior national record holder Katsumi Nakamura’s recent historic LCM performances earlier this year, teenager Yusuke Suda crushed a new age group record for men’s 15-16 in the 50m freestyle.

Clocking 22.41 in the morning, Suda already took over the previous age mark of 22.58, but he doubled down to do even more damage at night. Slamming the wall for the win in finals, Suda produced a big time of 22.19 to lower his newly-minted mark. Prior to this meet, Suda’s pervious personal best rested at the 22.86 notched back in November.

In terms of the ‘high school’ classification, Masahiro Kawane also made his move, touching in 21.71 to re-write that group’s 50m freestyle record. Kawane fired off a speedy 21.71 for the win over his peers in the only sub-22 second effort.

Although still in the junior ranks, both Suda and Kawane are indicative of the trend in Japanese freestyle as of late, which is one on an upward trajectory. The aforementioned Olympian, Nakamura, set both the 50 LCM and 100 LCM freestyle national records in February of this year, clocking 21.87 in the former and 47.87 in the latter.

Nakamura’s results remain as the #2 and #1 top times in the world so far this season.

The nation’s Pan Pacific Championsihps qualifying meet, the Japan Swim, kicks-off on Tuesday, April 3rd. Below is Sudau’s tweet displaying his excitement over his swim tonight.

ジュニアオリンピックカップ3日目、50ｍ自由形で22.19秒の大会新記録で優勝できました🎉
明日の100ｍも頑張ります！ pic.twitter.com/0qiHJtVmOH

— 須田悠介 (@Yuuusuke_suda) March 29, 2018