Kayoko Fukushi, national record holder in the women's 3,000 and 5,000 meters, has sustained a knee injury and will withdraw from two races in January, athletics officials said Thursday.
Fukushi damaged ligaments in her left knee and will focus on rehabilitation instead of taking part in the Miyazaki road race and the Inter-prefectural Ekiden Championship scheduled for Jan. 6 and 12, respectively.
The 20-year-old long distance runner hit her knee hard when she collided with another runner and fell during the National Corporate Ekiden on Sunday.