Japan Swim 2010

Fast times have been posted on the first day of the Japanese Nationals. Results (in English) can be found here.

Kosuke Kitajima set a new national record in the heats of the 50m Breast with a time of 27.30. The time moves Kitajima to the top of the world rankings, taking out Brenton Rickard's 27.40 set at last month's Aussie Champs. Kitajima's effort was just 0.12 seconds shy of Oleg Lisogor's textile best time and beat his previous best of 27.65 set in June 2008. Surprisingly, Kitajima could only manage second in the final with a time of 27.71. Ryo Tateishi won in a time of 27.66.

Rickard still holds the fastest times in the world in both the 100m and 200m Breast with 1:00.19 and 2:09.31. With the kind of speed shown in the 50m, Kitajima must be in with a good chance of being the first man under 60 seconds this year.


Other notable swims:-

Masayuki Kishida posted a swift 22.39 in the semis of the 50m Free. Fred Bousquet remains the only man to have broken 22 seconds this year.

Takeshi Matsuda took victory in the 400m Free in a time of 3:46.59. Tae Hwan Park still leads the world this year with 3:45.03.

Fast Times Downunder Part II - New non-tech suit fastest time for Seebohm!

The NSW State Open Championships continued to produce some excellent swims on day 2 of the 3 day meet.

Emily Seebohm impressed in both heats and finals dipping below the 1:00 mark both times. Her heat time was an impressive 59.89, but she backed this up with an incredible 59.25 in the final. In what I hope to be a Speed Endurance exclusive, I can reveal that Seebohm's 59.25 has broken Natalie Coughlin's previous WR of 59.44 set at the World Champs in 2007. The significance of Coughlin's mark is that this was the last WR in the Women's 100m back to be set in the non-techsuit era, making Seebohm the fastest women ever in the 100m Back wearing a 100% textile suit. Still just 17 years of age, Seebohm is one of swimming's brightest talents. A potentially epic duel awaits in the 100m Back at the Commonwealth Games later this year between Seebohm and current WR holder and World Champion Gemma Spofforth.

Notable performances came from Tae Hwan Park, winning his 3rd event at the meet with 1:46.98 in the 200m Free, Geoff Huegill going 2nd in the world rankings this year with 23.83 in the 50m Fly and an impressive 2:26.14 from Leisel Jones in the 200m Breast.

Other winners from day 2 were Therese Alshammar (50m Free - 24.98),Felicity Galvez (100m Fly - 58.73), Leith Brodie (200m IM), Brenton Rickard (100m Breast - 1:02.01), Bronte Barratt(400m Free - 4:09.28) and Daniel Arnamnart (200m Back - 2:01.75).