Reigning world sprint champion Nao Kodaira rewrote her own Japanese national record Sunday while winning the women's 500 meters at a speedskating World Cup meet.
Kodaira sliced 0.22 second off her previous mark, set last season, when she crossed the finish line at the Olympic Oval in 36.53 seconds, with world record holder Lee Sang-hwa of South Korea placing second in 36.86 and Arisa Go taking third in 37.06.
The 31-year-old Kodaira has won 21 consecutive 500-meter races, including 13 World Cup races.