INZELL, Germany (Kyodo) Masako Hozumi just missed a podium finish in fourth place in the women's 5,000 meters at the world distance championships on Saturday.
Hozumi clocked 7 minutes, 3.14 seconds in the race won by Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic in 6:50.83. Stephanie Beckert and Claudia Pechstein of Germany were second and third in times of 6:54.99 and 7:00.90, respectively.
Eri Ishino was back in eighth place in 7:10.66, while compatriot Shiho Ishizawa finished in 10th in 7:11.81.