▁after ▁and ▁ran ▁a ▁Japanese ▁record ▁time ▁of ▁ 9 : 3 8 . 6 8 ▁minutes ▁( her ▁Asian ▁record ▁had ▁been ▁better ed ▁by ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁Chinese ▁run ners ). ▁She ▁was ▁again ▁selected ▁for ▁the ▁national ▁team ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁World ▁Championships ▁in ▁Athletics , ▁held ▁in ▁Os aka , ▁but ▁she ▁fell ▁mid - race ▁and ▁had ▁to ▁be ▁st ret cher ed ▁off ▁the ▁track . ▁She ▁became ▁Japan ' s ▁first ▁Olympic ▁representative ▁in ▁the ▁women ' s ▁ste e ple ch ase ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁Be ij ing ▁Olympics ▁and ▁also ▁improved ▁her ▁national ▁record ▁that ▁year , ▁running ▁ 9 : 3 3 . 9 3 ▁minutes ▁at ▁the ▁FB K ▁Games . ▁The ▁year ▁after ▁she ▁ran ▁her ▁season ' s ▁best ▁of ▁ 9 : 3 9 . 2 8 ▁minutes ▁in ▁the ▁he ats ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁World ▁Championships ▁in ▁Athletics , ▁then ▁was ▁runner - up ▁to ▁Li ▁Z hen z hu ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 9 ▁East ▁Asian ▁Games . ▁ ▁Her ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁season ▁was ▁highlight ed ▁by ▁her ▁fifth ▁consecutive ▁national ▁title , ▁a ▁ste e ple ch ase ▁bronze ▁medal ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁Asian ▁Games ▁( the ▁first ▁time ▁the ▁event ▁was ▁held ▁at ▁the ▁competition ) ▁and ▁an ▁appearance ▁at ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁I A AF ▁Cont inental ▁Cup ▁( ele