Ms. Serena Sonoda, who belongs to NTN Track & Field Club, was selected as the athlete representing Japan for women's 35km race walk to participate in the 19th World Athletics Championships (hereafter, World Championships) held in Budapest, Hungary in August this year (from August 19 to 27, 2023).

In order to participate in the World Championships from Japan, runners need to record better than 2:46:00, which is set by Japan Association of Athletics Federations (hereafter, JAAF). Ms. Sonoda has achieved twice; once she finished 9th at the World Championships last July held in Oregon, the U.S. with a time of 2:45:09*, and the other was the 107th JAAF Athletics Championships (hereafter, JAAF Championships) held this April, finishing 2nd with a time of 2:44:25 to set a new Japanese record. In addition, she won “35km Race Walk of the 59th All Japan Takahata Race Walking, valid as selection of the Japan National Team for World Championships Budapest 2023” held in October last year and has now been selected as the athlete representing Japan. Following last year's World Championships, she was selected to represent Japan for the second consecutive year.

Ms. Sonoda will continue to practice hard for the World Championships in August. We would like to ask for your continued support.

Comment from Ms. Sonoda

At JAAF Championships held in April this year, as I participated in the race with the aim of winning and receiving an offer for World Championships, I was disappointed that I could not win. However, with consideration of competing on the world stage again, I took tactics such as increasing my pace from the last 10 km and developed the race differently from the same event last year, which was a great benefit for me in finding issues to address in order to compete at the World Championships.

At the World Championships in August, I will solve on my current issues and make thorough preparations so that I can make up for my disappointment at the JAAF Championships and achieve my goal of finishing in 8th place, which I failed to achieve last year. On the day of the World Championships, I will challenge the race with my gratitude to all of you who always support me.

I would appreciate you for your continued support and encouragement!