Marathon runner Reiko Tosa was in dreamland Sept. 3, a day after her bronze-medal-winning run at the athletics world championships secured her a berth in next year's Beijing Olympics.

Tosa won host Japan's only medal at the championships after she finished behind Kenyan Catherine Ndereba and China's Zhou Chunxiu on the final day of competition in Osaka.

The 30-year-old Tosa, fifth at the 2004 Athens Olympics, will be the first Japanese woman to run in back-to-back Olympic marathons since Yuko Arimori did it at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

"I think I have got luck on my side (but) this really is like a dream," a beaming Tosa said at a news conference.

"I've got myself a place on the Japan team one year before the Olympics so I can take plenty of time to prepare.

"This will be my second Olympics. I remember the atmosphere, and I want to run my own race and try not to be overwhelmed by the occasion.

"I felt the difference in level between myself and Ndereba (on Sept. 2). It will be hot in Beijing so I have to try and toughen my body up," said Tosa.

Tosa said she was confident that her sore knee would recover after a good rest.

"It hurt when I walked on it immediately after the race was over but it became better after I had it iced. I think it will be fine once I have had a proper rest," she said.