“Unbelievable! Japanese Athlete Shatters Records and Secures Finals Spot in Dramatic Race!”

During the Budapest World Athletics Championships on August 23 (August 24 in Japan), the women’s 5000 meters preliminary race took place. Nozomi Tanaka, a 23-year-old athlete representing New Balance, achieved a significant milestone by securing a spot in the finals. She finished 6th in the second heat with a remarkable time of 14 minutes, 37.98 seconds. This new Japanese record shattered the previous record by nearly 15 seconds. Tanaka aimed to redeem herself after being eliminated in the 1500-meter semi-finals. Due to heat-related issues, the event was delayed by approximately 8 hours from its original schedule and was rescheduled as a night event, necessitating extraordinary adjustments. The finals are scheduled for August 26 (August 27 in Japan).

The race witnessed an unexpected turn of events as 20 runners vied for the lead from the start. Hassan, a prominent endurance athlete who usually positions herself at the back, surprisingly took the lead. Tanaka positioned herself in the 3rd or 4th position on the inside track. As the race progressed, she moved up to the 2nd position around the 1000-meter mark, maintaining a steady pace alongside Hassan. The 1000 meters were completed in 2 minutes and 57 seconds. The midsection of the race saw a group of elite international runners forming a pack, and Tanaka held the 6th position while distancing herself from the trailing group. She maintained a pace that surpassed the Japanese record. Her determined effort during the final lap’s sprint secured her the 6th place.

Tanaka’s new record of 14 minutes, 37.98 seconds exceeded the previous Japanese record of 14 minutes, 52.84 seconds set by Ririka Hironaka in 2021. In the post-race interview area, Tanaka’s beaming smile was particularly noticeable.

Reflecting on her achievement, Tanaka shared, “I was able to showcase my full potential in terms of timing, which was satisfying. Making it to the finals brought me more joy. Even during the race, I considered that if I significantly slowed down in the last 1000 meters and took around 3 minutes and 10 seconds for that kilometer, it would still qualify as a Japanese record. However, I knew that such a pace wouldn’t secure a favorable position. While completing the final lap, I had these thoughts in mind.”