Sprinter Chisato Fukushima set a new national record in the women's 200 meters en route to winning her first title at the national championships on Friday and claiming a spot in the 2009 IAAF World Athletics Championships.
Fukushima, who turns 21 on Saturday, clocked a time of 23.00 seconds, eclipsing her own mark of 23.14 set at the Shizuoka International athletics meet in May, winning a berth to the world championships in Berlin this August.
Momoko Takahashi finished second in 23.19.
"I was able to accelerate right out of the blocks. I think I can go a little faster," said Fukushima, a native of Hokkaido who competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Japan in the 100. In other action at Hiroshima Big Arch, Shinji Takahira won his second consecutive title in the men's 200, timing 20.22 for the third-fastest time ever in Japan to book his spot on Japan's national team for worlds.
Asuka Terada crossed the line in 13.05 — a junior national record — to win the women's 100-meter hurdles.
Minori Hayakari captured the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase title in a meet record 9 minutes, 45.05 seconds.
Daisuke Arakawa and Daisuke Ikeda also booked their spots in the worlds. Arakawa had a leap of 8.00 meters in the men's long jump to claim victory.
Ikeda took the decathlon title with 7,753 points.
