Kanako Watanabe rewrote her Japanese record in the women's 200-meter individual medley on Friday, the fourth day of the National Swimming Championships.

Winner of the 50 and 100 breaststroke titles here, Watanabe shaved 0.77 second off her previous mark to win the 200 medley in 2 minutes, 9.81 seconds at Tatsumi International Swimming Center. Her time met the necessary standard to compete at this summer's FINA World Aquatics Championships.

In men's action, Kosuke Hagino clocked 1:56.30 to capture the 200 individual medley for the fourth time in a row, adding to the two freestyle titles he has won at the championships.

His time also qualified him for the worlds in Kazan, Russia, in July and August along with Daiya Seto, who took second in 1:56.82. Seto won the 200 butterfly in 1:54.63 ahead of Masato Sakai (1:55.23), with both swimmers qualifying to compete in the event in Kazan.

Shinri Shioura (22.15) and Miki Uchida (25.01) won the men's and women's 50 freestyle events, respectively, but both times were outside the qualifying standard.