2016 Japan Open: Day 1 Prelims Live 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)

Day 1 prelims of the 2016 Japan Open will get going with the 200 fly, 200 free, 100 back, 100 breast, women’s 800 free, and men’s 1500 free. Big names competing this session include Cameron McEvoy (200 free), Kosuke Hagino (200 free), and Rie Kaneto (100 breast).

Women’s 200 Fly Prelims

• Japanese Record: 2:04.69

1. Ryoka Hasegawa, Japan, 2:10.88
2. Sakiko Shimizu, Japan, 2:11.34
3. Natsumi Hoshi, Japan, 2:11.69
4. Miyuki Hirata, Yawatahama SC, 2:12.42
5. Manabu Kantoo, Toyo University, 2:12.49*
6. Manabu Hyun, Chukyo University, 2:12.49*
7. Hyogo Nishimura, JSS Okubo, 2:12.54
8. Chiba Bush Misuzu, Central Urayasu, 2:12.58

Ryoka Hasegawa led the women’s 200 fly prelims in 2:10.88, followed closely by Sakiko Shimizu who qualified 2nd in 2:11.34. 2015 world champion Natsumi Hoshi qualified 3rd overall in 2:11.69.

Men’s 200 Fly Prelims

• Japanese Record: 1:52.97

1. Seijin Sakai, Japan, 1:57.00
2. Daiya Seto, Japan, 1:57.39
3. Iwata Mutsumisei, Toyokawa High School, 1:58.18
4. Masayuki Umemo, KEIO, 1:58.41
5. Yuya Sakamoto, Taiki-SC, 1:58.66
6. Kanagawai Ryosuke, Yokohama Sakura, 1:58.67
7. Kantohi Yusuke, Toyo University, 1:58.72
8. Kanto, Sport Science University, 1:58.73

Seijin Sakai led the way in the men’s 200 fly heats, posting the top time of 1:57.00. Daiya Seto posted the 2nd fastest time in 1:57.39, and Iwata Mutsumisei sits 3rd in 1:58.18. Seto previously held the top time in the world this year of 1:54.14 from the Japanese Olympic Trials before Hungarian Laszlo Cseh took over the top spot with his swim of 1:52.91 at the European Championships.

Women’s 200 Free Prelims

• Japanese Record: 1:57.37

1. Leah Neale, Australia, 1:58.74
2. Chihiro Igarashi, Japan, 1:59.42
3. Mochida Haya Sato, Japan, 2:00.26
4. Aya Takano, Osaka, 2:00.33
5. IkeKo璃花Ko, Japan, 2:00.63
6. Tomomi Aoki, Japan, 2:00.74
7. Kantoo Miyamoto, Toyo University, 2:00.91
8. Manabu Kanto, Toyo University, 2:01.34

Australia’s Leah Neale led the way in the women’s 200 free, clocking a 1:58.74. Chihiro Igarashi of Japan qualified 2nd in 1:59.42, the only other swimmer under two minutes. The final will be extremely tight with qualifiers three through eight separated by just 1.08 seconds.

Men’s 200 Free Prelims

• Japanese Record: 1:45.23

1. Cameron McEvoy, Australia, 1:47.03
2. Daniel Smith, Australia, 1:47.38
3. Kosuke Hagino, Japan, 1:47.85
4. Gangwon Knight, Japan, 1:47.89
5. Daiya Seto, Japan, 1:48.27
6. Sakato ReiHisashi, Itoman Kinki, 1:48.77
7. Hugo Morris, NSW, 1:48.86
8. Naoya Tsuruga, Wells Ma down, 1:48.95A

Australians Cameron McEvoy and Daniel Smith finished 1-2 in the men’s 200 free heats in 1:47.03 and 1:47.38 respectively, with Kosuke Hagino qualifying 3rd in 1:47.85. The final will be very intriguing as it is a potential dress rehearsal for the final in Rio with Hagino and McEvoy facing off. Also of note is Daiya Seto, who completed a tough 200 fly/200 free double to qualify 5th in 1:48.27.

Women’s 100 Back Prelims

• Japanese Record: 58.70

1. Natsumi Sakai, Japan, 1:00.96*
2. Belinda Hocking, Australia, 1:00.96*
3. Kou Takemura, Wells Ma down, 1:01.09
4. Au Hoi Shun, HKG, 1:01.30
5. Various Transmurasuwin, Tatebayashi, 1:01.44
6. Kaylee McKeown, Australia, 1:01.63
7. Central Kahashi, Chukyo University, 1:01.68
8. Lau Yin Yang, HKG, 1:01.75

Natsumi Sakai (JPN) and Belinda Hocking (AUS) tied for the top spot in the 100 back prelims in 1:00.96, with Tou Takemura (1:01.09) not far behind.

Men’s 100 Back Prelims

• Japanese Record: 52.24

1. Ryosuke Irie, Japan, 54.26
2. Masakai Kaneko, Japan, 54.45
3. Joshua Beaver, Australia, 54.46
4. Junya Koga, Japan, 54.85
5. Takeshi Kawamoto, Chukyo University, 55.03
6. Hasegaewa Junya, Japan, 55.49
7. Matsubara颯, ANA, 55.82
8. Takashi Yamazaki, Self-Defense Forces, 55.84

Japanese record holder Ryosuke Irie led the men’s 100 back prelims in 54.26, just ahead of a trio of others who were also under 55 seconds. Masakai Kaneko and Junya Koga of Japan qualified 2nd and 4th respectively in 54.45 and 54.85, while Australian Joshua Beaver qualified 3rd in 54.46.

Women’s 100 Breast Prelims

• Japanese Record: 1:05.88

1. Kanako Watanabe, Japan, 1:07.69
2. Rie Kaneto, Japan, 1:07.79
3. Misaki Sekiguchi, Nippon Sport Science University, 1:08.36
4. Kanto Reiitoguchi, Toyo University, 1:08.40
5. Satomi Suzuki, Japan, 1:08.43
6. Kanto Miku, Toyo University, 1:08.55
7. Taylor McKeown, Australia, 1:08.57
8. Imai Month, Japan, 1:08.76

Japanese breaststroke stalwarts Kanako Watanabe and Rie Kaneto took the top two seeds in the women’s 100 breast 1:07.69 and 1:07.79 respectively, with the only non-Japanese swimmer to make the final, Taylor McKeown of Australia, back in 7th in 1:08.57. Just 1.07 seconds separates the eight qualifiers for the final.

Men’s 100 Breast Prelims

• Japanese Record: 58.90

1. Yasuhiro Koseki, Japan, 1:00.00
2. Ippei Watanabe, Japan, 1:00.65
3. Kazuki Hayashi, NSP, 1:00.84
4. Watanabe Hayabu, Self-Defense Forces, 1:01.27
5. Takehiro Oshikiri, ANA Sales, 1:01.42
6. Sachi Mochida, Chukyo University, 1:01.48
7. Kazuki Kohinata, Central Sports, 1:01.50
8. Nakamura Yusuke, Kagawa University, 1:01.64

Yasuhiro Koseki led the men’s 100 breast prelims in 1:00.00, with Ippei Watanabe in 2nd in 1:00.65. Australians Kenneth To (1:01.81) and Jake Packard (1:02.01) failed to make the top-8.