Japan's Ayana Onozuka claimed her spot in the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, finishing fifth in the qualification round on Monday.

Onozuka, who earned bronze at the Sochi Olympic four years ago, scored 84.80 points in her second of two runs at Phoenix Snow Park to secure her place in the final along with 11 others, including Canada's Cassie Sharpe who posted the highest qualifying score.

"The overall level is improving so it's going to come down to whether I can keep up with that. (In the final) I hope to put everything out there, everything I've worked for," Onozuka said.

Japan's Saori Suzuki and Yurie Watabe missed the cut after finishing 14th and 22nd, respectively, in a field of 24.

Watabe was hoping to medal in the final on Tuesday, the day her husband Akito competes in the Nordic combined large hill 10-km race in a bid for a second medal in Pyeongchang following his silver in the normal hill event.

"I wish I had another run. I wouldn't say I felt like I was competing together (with Akito), but I'm able to be here today thanks to the support from all, including my family," Watabe said.


More on the Olympics:

Olympics: Norway lands team ski jumping gold, Japan 6th

Olympics: Kasai says he will compete in Beijing 2022 at age 49

Olympics: Akito Watabe aims to be second to none in large hill 10 km