Yousuke Mori impresses in Men's 400m IM heats: Day one – 2011 Swimming World Cup, Tokyo
Yousuke Mori of Japan impressed the arena by outperforming his competitors in Men's 400m Individual Medley (IM) on foremost day of the 2011 Swimming World Cup in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, November 12.
Tokyo is the final juncture of the seven-stage World Cup series, scheduled by the international aquatics sport governing body, Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA).
The 20-year-old Mori seems determined for top qualifying position from start of the race. He completed his first half of the race in a top ranked time of 26.72 seconds. He was trailed by his team-members, Keita Itou and Naoki Nakatani, who covered the same
distance in 27.40 and 27.58 seconds, respectively.
Mori displayed his tremendous effort in the second round, as he completed his initial 100 meters of the race in a time of 57.41 seconds. He remained just 0.68 seconds ahead of Itou, who ended his second round with an effort of 58.09 seconds.
In the third round, Itou took control of the race by ending his round in a top time of 1 minute and 30.51 seconds. With his astonishing skills, he gained a lead of 0.06 seconds over Mori, who covered the equivalent distance in a time of 1 minute and 30.57
seconds.
Subsequently, Itou started dictated terms to his strongest rival and completed his first half of the race in a time of 2 minutes and 02.47 seconds. He was chased by Mori, who remained 0.52 seconds slower from him and ended his first half with an effort of
2 minutes and 02.99 seconds.
Itou continued his dominance over Mori in the next two rounds, where he ended his breast-stroke swim with an effort of 3 minutes and 14.41 seconds. Similarly, Mori was just 0.59 seconds behind him and finished his round in a time of 3 minutes and 15.00 seconds.
Finally, Mori geared up his pace in the last two rounds, where he earned a prominent lead over his competitor and ended his freestyle swim in a fastest time of 4 minutes and 11.48 seconds.
Nakatani and Itou followed him on the finishing end with second and third best timings of 4:13.21 and 4:13.49 minutes, respectively.
With the exceptional battle in the prelims of IM discipline, it would be interesting to see who claims the crown of the 400m event.
Tags: