Tanaka Sets 200 Breast Asian Record

The day's highlight was a new national and Asian record for Masami Tanaka in the women's 200 breast semis. It was the 14th national record in five days. In the morning prelims, Tanaka bettered the old national record of 2:26.65 by Kyoko Iwasaki from 1992 with 2:26.18. Five hours later, Tanaka blasted to a new asian record with 2:24.27 . It was the second fastest in the record chronology. The splits were 33.51, 1:10.59, 1:47.42. She said " I am very surprised at the record and really pleased. I want to swim with the same time in Sydney." The final will be held tomorrow.

Maki Mita celebrated her 17th birthday with a new national record of 2:08.13, bettering her own one day old mark 2:04.48 in the women's 200 butterfly final. Mita said " I was a little disappointed in my time. I hoped to swim under 2:08. " Her splits were 28.74, 1:01.20, 1:34.63.

Akira Hayashi won the men's 200 breast final with 2:13.59, his personal best. Yoshiaki Okita was second with 2:13.90 and Daisuke Kimura was third in 2:13.97.

In the men's 200 IM, 16 year old Jiro Miki got his first national title with 2:02.64. Tatsuya Kinugasa was second in 2:03.14 and Susumu Tabuchi third in 2:03.46.

15 national records were established in five days. Women's 200 breast and backstorke , men's 100 butterfly, 50 and 400 free finals will be held tomorrow, the final day of the championships.