Canberra hurdler Laurens Wells said becoming a triple Olympian would be an incredible achievement as she chases a record-extending 12th national championship on Sunday.
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Wells thought her international career was over following the 2018 Commonwealth Games but some incredible form this year has put her on track for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The 30-year-old halved her training to accommodate becoming a full-time teacher last year and the lighter load has delivered several personal best times.
Wells has once again qualified fastest for the 400 metres hurdles at the Australian track and field championships being held in Sydney this week.
Another national title will see Wells automatically selected to compete for Australia at the world track and field championships in Doha later this year.
"When I ran last year I honestly thought that could be my last nationals," Wells said.
"After the Comm Games, I scaled training back and didn't have intentions of going to the world champs this year.
"I was training really hard but just less and my mental approach was not to put expectations on myself. It's been really freeing to run for the love of it and not be dictated by times or events.
"Every other season I focused on hurdles but my coach Matty Beckenham and I decided on a different approach this time, no hurdling beside racing and seems to be going really well.
"The national titles are all special but just knowing I've taken a different approach this year it would be really nice to see that we took a risk and it paid off."
Wells has already run two world championships qualifiers this year but remains unsure if she'll compete. Although the budding teacher admits she's checked the school calendar.
"It's not necessarily about the representative side of things, it's whether I actually still want to compete at that higher level," Wells said.
"I think deep down the answer is yes but I'm going to stick with the approach I've had this whole season and take this week as it comes and make a decision afterwards.
"I've got teaching to think about, I made a commitment to the school and students. But I have looked ahead to worlds and matching up the dates it does so happen it falls in term three holidays."
Wells admits pushing through until the Tokyo 2020 and becoming a triple Olympian is tempting, but she won't be rushing into a decision.
"I've said to Matt all along that Tokyo is not off the table, given it is 18 months away. The Olympics is always in an athlete's mind, I’m very aware of it," Wells said.
"We had the conversation and I said if I can work full-time, train and maintain a level of competitiveness and times I want to hit then it would be an incredible achievement to become a triple Olympian.
"I've definitely thought about it but there is lot do before then."
