NAGANO (Kyodo) Japan's athletics governing body will turn to an overseas race to decide who will run the women's marathon at this summer's world championships in Daegu, South Korea.
On Tuesday, organizers of the Nagano Marathon canceled what was to be the final qualifier scheduled for April 17 amid continued uncertainty surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The Japan Association of Athletics Federations will choose an overseas replacement race, including possibly the London Marathon on April 17.
Four spots are still up for grabs for Japanese female marathon runners.
Only Yoshimi Ozaki has clinched a place in Daegu, winning the Yokohama Women's Marathon on Feb. 20 in 2 hours, 23 minutes, 56 seconds, well under the qualifying standard of 2 hours, 26 minutes.