Day three of the 2011 International Swimming Competitions Selection Trial Japan
Third day of the 2011 International Swimming Competitions Selection Trial concluded with the events of 200m Individual Medley, 50m back-stroke, 50m freestyle and the 200m breast-stroke in the Men’s and Women’s category in Hamamatsu on Monday.
The championship is a trial basis for Japanese swimmers to confirm their spots in the Japanese Swimming Squad for the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai this July.
The session initiated with the Women’s 200m IM, where Fukuda Tomoyo earned the gold medal in a time of 2:12.44 minutes ahead of the Takabatake Emi and Takahashi Miho, who touched the wall second and third in 2:14.61 and 2:15.14 minutes respectively.
In the Men’s equivalent event, Takakuwa Ken qualified for China by earning the gold medal in a time of 1:59.71 minutes. Kosaka Yuuma and Sano Hidemasa followed him on the podium for the silver and bronze medal in a time of 1:59.86 and 2:00.07 minutes respectively.
Next was the Women’s 50m back-stroke final, where the arena witnessed Terakawa Aya conquering the gold medal in an astonishing time of 27.79 seconds. Her wonderful timing qualified her for Shanghai and was comfortably ahead of her competing swimmers, Sakai
Shiho and Inada Noriko, who touched the wall for second and third in 28.38 and 28.57 seconds.
Moments later, Koga Junya demonstrated a magnificent swim in the Men’s 50m back-stroke by dominating his way to the gold medal in a time of 24.97 seconds. He was followed by Irie Ryosuke and Yamaguchi Masafumi, who clocked 25.07 and 25.26 seconds.
After a few minutes, Matsumoto Yayoi emerged as the fastest swimmer in the Women’s 50m freestyle by earning the gold medal in 25.18 seconds. Ueda Haruka and Uchida Miki reached the podium for the silver and bronze medal in a time of 25.64 and 25.89 seconds.
In the Men’s 50m freestyle, the arena was stunned by the amazing swim of Ito Kenta, who earned his spot to Shanghai by out-touching his fellow swimmers in a time of 22.28 seconds. He was followed by Itou Makoto and Shioura Shinri, who climbed the podium
for the silver and bronze medal in a time of 22.57 and 22.60 seconds.
Next was the Women’s 200m breast-stroke, where Suzuki Satomi earned the gold medal and qualified for China in a time of 2:24.36 minutes. Kanetou Rie and Watanabe Kanako followed her on the podium for the silver and bronze medal in a time of 2:25.36 and 2:25.59
minutes respectively.
The last event of the day was the most crucial and faced a set-back, as Tomita Naoya conquered the gold medal for the event ahead of the two times Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima in a time of 2:08.25 minutes. Naoya had a comfortable victory over the defending
champion Kitajima, who touched the wall second in a time of 2:09.26 minutes. The third spot on the podium was secured by Ohtsuka Kazuki, who clocked 2:09.94 minutes.
The top two finishers of every event will represent their country at the 2011 World Championships in July.
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