Nakamura Sets 50 Back World Record

Mai Nakamura established a new world record with 28.67 in women's 50 backstroke time trial. Nakamura was the fourth female Japanese world record holder. The last record was set by Mayumi Aoki in the 100 butterfly at the Munich Olympics 1972. Nakamura said " It's great.I don't believe this. It's just a dream come true "

Masami Tanaka completed a clean sweep of the breaststroke events. She established 7 national records during the 6 day meet. In the 200 final, she bettered her one day old mark 2:24.27 with 2:24.12. She became the second all-time performer of the event.

Her spilits:

33.31

1:0.33

1:47.25

2:24.12

"My aim was new world record. I would like to have gone a bit quicker. I think Heynes will be a good rival for me in Sydney." In the morning 50 breast trial, Tanaka also clocked 31.75.

In second place in the event was Junko Isoda 2:28.04, almost a full 4 seconds behind Tanaka and in third was Fumiko Kawanabe with a time of 2:28.92.

Another national record came from Sachiko Yamada in the 400 freestyle. She bettered the old record of 4:10.67 by Suzu Chiba from 1993. Tears welled up in her eyes when Yamada saw the board. " I have done a lot of work for this. I am very pleased."

Yasuko Tajima finished second in the 400 free with her time of 4:10.78 and Eri Yamanoi was third in 4:16.73.

The women's 200 back finals looked like a preview of the Olympic final, with Miki Nakao, Tomoko Hagiwara, Mai Nakamura and Noriko Inada. Nakamura was under the national-record spilit at the 100 turn, but Nakao had the lead after the 150 turn and she touched with 2:10.73 ahead of Hagiwara, whose 2:10.91 was second. Nakao said " I was a bit nervous before the race. Because it was very difficult for me to win among those able swimmers. I want to be relaxed and to have fun in Sydney."

Mai Nakamura was third in the event with her time of 2:11.95.

Sumika Minamoto established a new National Record in the womens 50 freestyle with her time of 25.29. She was followed by Kaori Yamada and Noko Imoto who tied for the silver with their times of 26.06.

In the mens events Masato Hirano 3:54.51, picked up his third title of the championships with a win in the 400 freestyle. He was followed in second by Takanori Koike 3:55.09 and Syunichi Fujita 3:56.42 was third.

In the mens 50 free only the winner Syunsuke Ito was able to go under 23 seconds winning the event in 22.96. In second was Tomohiro Yamanoi in 23.02 and third was Norihide Ishida 23.36.

In the mens 100 butterfly Takashi Yamamoto was well ahead of the pack winning the event in 52.97. His competitors were no match as they were not able break 53 seconds in the semi's or final. Ryo Takayasu 54.24 was second followed by Kohei Kawamoto 54.39 in third.