Rebecca Henderson smashed the world marathon race walk record at the All Japan Race Walking

Under a dismal, rain-soaked sky in Takahata, northern Japan, the 63rd edition of the All Japan Race Walking meeting delivered one of the most historic days in the modern era of athletics on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Despite the grueling, sodden conditions, the event—part of the World Athletics Race Walking Tour—became the epicenter of global attention as Australia’s Rebecca Henderson shattered the women’s world record in the marathon race walk, storming to an absolute masterclass of a victory.

The landmark performances in the women’s division redefined the upper limits of the sport’s newest championship distance, while the companion half-marathon event showcased the rising depth of international and domestic race walking.

The headline event of the day belonged to the women’s marathon race walk (42.195 km). The distance, which has rapidly gained prestige as the sport’s ultimate test of structural endurance, saw Australia’s 25-year-old rising star Rebecca Henderson completely rewrite the history books.

From the sound of the starting pistol, Henderson showed zero hesitation despite the pooling water on the Takahata course. Opting for a bold, aggressive pacing strategy, she gradually detached herself from the rest of the elite field to mount a staggering solo time-trial against the elements.

Moving with flawless technical fluidity and remarkable cadence, Henderson crossed the finish line in a breathtaking world record time of 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 52 seconds. Her performance clipped a massive 19 seconds off the previous world mark (3:15:11), which had been set just months earlier by Italy’s Sofia Fiorini at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

The victory is a monumental milestone for Australian track and field, making Henderson the first senior Australian athlete in a generation to claim an individual world record in a premier championship discipline. Her triumph caps an incredible developmental curve, building on her previous successes as a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist.

The brutal toll of Henderson’s historic pace was clearly reflected in the gaps that opened up behind her. It took another 14 minutes and 28 seconds for the second-place athlete to reach the stadium gates.

Japan’s Ayane Yanai anchored the domestic pride, crossing the line in 3:29:10 to secure a hard-fought second place. Yanai showed immense tactical discipline, refusing to match Henderson’s blistering early surges and instead locking into a sustainable rhythm designed to survive the biting cold and dampness of the northern Japan venue. While she couldn’t challenge for the top step, Yanai’s silver-medal performance stands as an excellent showcase of local endurance and sets a high baseline for Japanese athletes tackling the marathon distance moving forward.

While the marathon distance provided the historic fireworks, the women’s Half-Marathon Race Walk final proved to be a highly competitive display of speed and technical precision.

Australia doubled its golden tally for the day as Commonwealth Games silver medalist Elizabeth “Lizzy” McMillen claimed a dominant victory in the 21.097 km event. McMillen stopped the clock at 1:31:31, slicing an incredible seven minutes off her previous personal best set a mere seven months prior.

Walking at a fierce average pace of roughly 4:20 per kilometer, McMillen looked comfortable and controlled throughout the race. Crucially, her winning mark successfully breached the strict qualifying standard required for next year’s World Athletics Championships, booking her ticket to the global stage in emphatic fashion.

The 63rd All Japan Race Walking meeting will be remembered as a legendary blueprint for the sport. On a day when the meteorological forecasts threatened to derail fast times, the sheer determination of the international fields generated red-hot competitive energy.

Combined with Japan’s Masatora Kawano setting the companion men’s marathon race walk world record (2:55:14) on the very same afternoon, Takahata has officially cemented its status as one of the fastest and most prestigious race walking circuits on the planet. For the women’s field—led by the legendary exploits of Rebecca Henderson and Elizabeth McMillen—the 2026 meet represents a massive evolutionary leap forward as athletes continue to master the nuances of championship road racing.