Overview

• Kitaguchi recorded 60.38 meters to place 14th overall on Sept. 19, missing the top‑12 cutoff for the final at the World Championships in Tokyo.
• Her series was 60.31m, 60.38m, and 58.80m; the last qualifier advanced with 60.98m, leaving her about 60 centimeters short, well under the 62.50m automatic mark.
• She entered the meet after right‑elbow inflammation sidelined her for roughly two months, skipping the national championships and returning in August with subpar Diamond League form.
• Competing without protective tape after final practice, she said fear of re‑injury limited her ability to fully swing her arm, and vowed to rehabilitate and return stronger.
• Japan had no finalists in the event, with Mone Ueda at 60.49m for 13th and Sae Takemoto at 55.11m for 30th.