By Olivia Wile, Swimming World College Intern.
After today, there’s only one session left of the 2019 Japanese Swimming Championships in Tokyo. Over the last six days, swimmers have been trying to qualify for the World championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
The highlight of today was Shiniri Shioura’s new national record in the men’s 50m freestyle. Just off the men’s 100m fly record was Takaya Yasue, he’ll look to chase down that time tomorrow in finals.
The complete lineup included the men’s 200m backstroke final, women’s 200m back semi final, men’s and women’s 50 free semi final, women’s 800m freestyle final, women’s 200m breaststroke final, men’s 100m fly semi final, women’s 50m fly final and men’s 200m breaststroke final.
Men’s 200m Backstroke Final
Today’s session kicked off with the final of the men’s 200m backstroke. After placing first yesterday in semi finals, Ryosuke Irie got things done again, dropping nearly three seconds and winning with a time of 1:55.79. This is off the national record time, but still a Gwangju Worlds A cut.
Jumping from fifth yesterday to second today was Keita Sunama. He finished with a time of 1:56.06. Hayate Matsubara touched third (1:57.58). In fourth place with a time of 1:59.24 was Yuuma Edo. A close fifth (1:59.26) went to Ryota Naitou.
Just out of the 1:59 mark was Ryuka Ino and Yuuki Maruyama. Ino placed sixth (2:00.04) with Maruyamataking seventh (2:00.96). Takahiro Yamazaki finished eighth (2:01.94).
Women’s 200m Backstroke Semi Final
Several women were under the Worlds A cut in the semi final of the 200m back today. Top seed for tomorrow will go to Rio Shirai. She finished first with a time of 2:09.93.
All hitting A cuts as well were Anna Konishi touching second (2:10.62), Sayaka Akase placing third (2:10.73) and Natsumi Sakai finishing fourth (2:11.48).
Just off the cut was Marina Furubayashi getting to the wall fifth with a time of 2:11.57. In sixth (2:12.43) was Miki Takahashi with seventh (2:12.98) going to Rika Yuhara. Aisa Mataki finished eighth (2:13.12).
Women’s 50m Freestyle Semi Final
It was Rika Oomoto who took the top seed after the women’s 50m free semi final. She got to the wall first with a time of 25.27, off the world record and the A cut. Finishing a close second with a time of 25.30 was Aya Satou.
In third with a time of 25.52 was Tomomi Aoki. Sayuki Ouchi finished fourth (25.56) with Mayuka Yamamoto a hundredth behind at a 25.57. Taking sixth (25.61) was Aki Nishidu, while Shiho Matsumoto finished seventh (25.83).
Mayu Terayama finished eighth (25.94).
Men’s 50m Freestyle Semi Final
Setting a new national record and finishing first with a time of 21.61 was Shiniri Shioura. He will go in as top seed for tomorrow’s final.
Getting to the wall next with a time of 22.18 was Koushirou Sakai. Katasumi Nakamura finished third (22.26) with Syunichi Nakao taking fourth (22.31).
Two, one-hundredths separated Akira Nanba and Kousuke Matsui. Nanba finished fifth (22.34) with Matsui taking sixth (22.36). In seventh place with a time of 22.55 was Masayuki Kishida. Kazuki Kino finished eighth (22.61).
Women’s 800m Freestyle Final
It was Miyu Namba who took first in the final of the women’s 800m freestyle. She finished with a time of 8:30.62, in A-cut range, but out of national-record range. Finishing second with a time of 8:32.57 was Waka Kobori, third (8:33.33) went to Yukimi Moriyama.
There was a bit of a gap in the field with Kinuko Mochiduki next to the wall with a 8:38.91. Taking fifth (8:38.91) was Chinatsu Satou.
In sixth place with a time of 8:42.18 was Aoi Nakamura, Mayuko Gotou finished seventh (8:42.24) and Asari Wada placed eighth (8:47.60).
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final
Up next in the session was the final of the women’s 200m breaststroke. Top seed Kanako Watanabe finished first with a time of 2:24.28, dropping a second from semi finals.
Shiori Asaba finished second with a time of 2:25.94, with Kako Ishida finishing third (2:26.09) and Runa Imai taking fourth (2:26.87).
In fifth place with a time of 2:27.64 was Mai Fukasawa, sixth (2:27.79) went to Miho Takahashi. Finishing off the heat was Satomi Suzuki in seventh (2:27.91) and Mei Ishihara in eighth (2:29.35).
Men’s 100m Fly Semi Final
Finishing first today in the semi final of the men’s 100m fly was Takaya Yasue. Yasue finished with a time of 51.84, just shy of the national record of 51.00.
Both finishing second were Naomi Mizunuma and Masayuki Umemoto tying with a time of 52.19. A close fourth and fifth went to Takeshi Kawamoto and Shinnosuke Ishikawa. Kawamoto finished fourth (52.24) with Ishikawa finishing fifth (52.31).
In sixth place with a time of 52.44 was Shin Miura. Kouta Akahane finished seventh (52.46) while Yuuki Kobori qualified eighth (52.51).
Women’s 50m Butterfly Final
Taking the women’s 50m fly final with a time of 26.02 was Yukina Hirayama. Her time is a worlds A cut. In second with a time of 26.44 was Mayuka Yamamoto. Sayuki Ouchi finished third (26.52).
Tying for fourth with a time of 26.65 were Masako Kuroki and Anna Shinno. Taking sixth with a time of 26.74 was Ai Souma.
Suzuka Hasegawa got to the wall next at a 27.07. Rena Tejima finished eighth (27.17).
Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final
Finishing off today’s session was the final of the men’s 200m breaststroke. Top seed Ippei Watanabe won the event with a time of 207.02, dropping two seconds from yesterday. Kazuki Kohinata finished second with a time of 2:08.57, also dropping from semi finals.
Taking third in the event with a time of 2:08.96 was Yasuhiro Koseki. Hayato Watanabe finished fourth (2:10.41).
A close fifth and sixth went to Ryuya Miura and Kazuki Hayashi. Miura finished fifth (2:10.94) with Hayashi taking sixth (2:10.97). In seventh place with a time of 2:11.31 was Yukihiro Takahashi. Mamoru Mouri placed eighth (2:12.20).
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