Japanese Set Two Records

The Japanese Olympic team dominated the Swim Meet of Champions in Mission Viejo Thursday, setting two meet records in the day’s only event, the 800 meters.

Masato Hirano’s men’s mark of 8 minutes 1.88 seconds was more than two seconds faster than George DiCarlo’s previous record.

Sachiko Yamada narrowly missed setting a Japanese women’s record, but her time of 8:32.93 broke the previous best of 8:33.37 set by Olympian Janet Evans. Teammate Yasuko Tajima had the second-best time (8:42.40). Kaitlin Sandeno of El Toro High (8:47.07) was third.

Usually held a week earlier, the meet was pushed back at the request of the 21-person Japanese swim team so that all of its contingent could attend the meet at the Marguerite Aquatics Center.

Hirano flew from Australia where he has been in training.

“I try to lead the other swimmers,” he said. “By doing my best, my performance will affect the rest of the team and I will be happy.”

USC’s Erik Vendt, who intends to make a run at the meet’s all-around title by swimming in as many as three events per day, stayed on Hirano’s shoulder most of the 16-lap 800 heat but wound up second at 8:02.07. Laguna Hills’ Chad Carvin, who had the fastest 800 time at the meet last year, finished third in 8:06.84.

“I drew about even [with Hirano] and I thought I could keep going,” Vendt said. “But I spent a lot of energy. I decided to take him in the last 100 meters, but he jumped me.”

In the women’s race, Yamada opened a 15-meter lead on Tajima and Sandeno was another 10 meters behind that.

“This is definitely not a rested meet for me,” Sandeno said. “It’s a training meet.”