Japan¡¯s latest rising swim star Kosuke Hagino dominated the pool as he set a pair of national records in the third day of the 90th national championships at Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Toyo University student, who registered in six different events in the annual tourney, first took the water in the men¡¯s 400-meter freestyle and cruised to the win in a time of 3 minutes, 43.90 seconds, breaking his own national record that he notched last summer by 0.92 seconds.

Then, about 40 minutes later, he came back for the men¡¯s 200-meter individual medley and clocked 1:55.38, 0.36 seconds quicker than the previous national record, that he also set at nationals last year, for the third straight crown in the event.

¡°Through training I have built more confidence,¡± said Hagino, who won silver medals in the events at last year¡¯s world championships in Barcelona, Spain. ¡°I was motivated to swim faster than the national records today, and I was able to do that, so that was good.¡±

Hagino, who has now triumphed in four of the five events he¡¯s competed in, is seeking one more trophy on the final day in the men¡¯s 200-meter backstroke, in which he is expected to have a close battle with Olympic medalist Ryosuke Irie.

¡°I¡¯m sure Irie¡¯s going to have a good time,¡± said Hagino, who won five titles in a single national championships a year ago. ¡°Hopefully, I can keep up with him and have a good time, too.¡±

The national championships is a qualifying trial for Augusts¡¯ Pan Pacific Championships and September¡¯s Asian Games. Hagino has clinched berths on the national squad in all the five events he has competed in at nationals so far.

Meanwhile, Hagino¡¯s rival, Daiya Seto, settled for third place, 2.54 seconds behind Hagino in the 200 IM. But earlier that day, he earned his first national-championships title with a 200-meter butterfly victory in 1:54.84.

¡°I was looking for the 200 butterfly title and managed to win it, so I¡¯m happy,¡± said Seto, who won Japan a 400-IM gold medal at worlds last year.

Veteran two-time Olympic individual medalist Takeshi Matsuda finished in fifth place in 1:56.94 in the 200 IM.

In the men¡¯s 50-meter backstroke, former world champion Junya Koga out-swam Irie for the victory in 24.68, clinching his first place on the national team in a while.

In the women¡¯s 200-meter IM, 17-year-old Kanako Watanabe grabbed her second title in the tournament with a time of 2:11.04.

In the women¡¯s 200 butterfly, London Olympic bronze medalist Natsumi Hoshi completed her fifth consecutive title in the event at nationals.