Lauren Boden continues to leave her nearest competitors eating her dust as the hurdler looks for a place at this year's London Olympics.
Her commanding three-second victory in the 400m hurdles at the Perth Track Classic on Saturday night was the fastest time the six-time national champion has run in Australia and her fifth best time overall.
The Canberran is becoming increasingly confident that she will soon be able to book her place for London after stopping the clock in 55.61seconds, just 0.11 outside the Olympic A-qualifying standard.
Boden slashed 0.46 off her time in Hobart last week and is looking for more improvements as she heads to the Sydney Track Classic on Saturday.
Boden said she hadn't expected to run so fast this early in the season.
''It was a good improvement from my last run in Hobart and I am inching closer to that A-qualifier [time],'' Boden said.
''Obviously I was very close to the qualifying time [on Saturday night] but it is only my fourth race of the season and I am definitely looking at Sydney to have another good run.''
Boden is already running faster at this time of the season than in previous years, including when she set her personal best [55.25] in Japan in 2010, and has credited her impressive start to the season to a more relaxed mindset.
''I have had a more relaxed approach to the season this year and in terms of mindset I am able to just go into races and know what stride pattern I am going to do and concentrate on my own race,'' Boden said. ''I know that if I can do that then the fast times will come.''
Boden is expecting a similar field at Sydney's race but the 23-year-old said she had become used to racing more against the clock than her competitors.
Jana Pittman has been Boden's main competition in the past but the former world champion has struggled with injuries this season.
''Having Jana in the field would be a great boost but at the end of the day you have to race who is out there on the track,'' Boden said.
Melissa Breen also had a strong night in Perth, winning the 200m event in 23.76 and finishing second behind Sally Pearson in the 100m in 11.53.
Brendan Cole improved on his time for Hobart in the 400m hurdles clocking 50.60, a little more than a second away from the A-qualifying time, but found American Justin Gaymon [50.21] too strong.
Canberra's Kerrie Perkins won the women's long jump with a leap of 6.45m to beat Victorian Brooke Stratton (6.43m).
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