Yoko Shibui, who finished third in the Chicago Marathon in October, said Saturday she plans to run in Nagoya in March in a bid to earn a place in the women's marathon at next year's World Championships in Paris.
Shibui has switched her personal goal for next season from qualifying for the World Championships in the 10,000 meters, saying she has a better chance to make the podium on the road than on the track.
Shibui won in Osaka in her marathon debut in January 2001 and finished fourth at the World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta, seven months later.