Canberra's Keely Small is dreaming big for the Tokyo Olympics and eyeing qualification in two middle-distance events after a strong start to the summer.
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The postponement of the 2020 Games came as a blessing in disguise for the 19-year-old athlete, as she recovered from a stress reaction in her shin and worked on endurance training.
Small said she's at a whole new fitness level and it's shown in her early results, having run a personal best in the 1500-metres at Zatopek (4.07.89) and beat Catriona Bisset to win the 800-metres event at the ACT Championship on February 13.
Her 1500-metre time was only three seconds behind the Olympic qualifier, giving Small confidence to grow in that event ahead of Tokyo.
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Small, who won gold at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires in 2018, and coach Philo Saunders have mapped out her road to Tokyo to include a potential berth in the two events instead of the 800-metres only.
"It's been something I haven't really thought about until now because the focus has always been on the 800-metres," Small said.
"I've only run the 1500-metres when I had the chance to... there's room to improve in this event and to be three seconds off the qualifier with my first proper 1500-metres in three years is very promising.
"The aim is still 800-metres but I can start focusing on the 1500-metres as well and hopefully do the qualifier. Then I have the opportunity to do both at Tokyo if it goes ahead, or being able to pick which one I want to do."
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Small will look to narrow down her 800-metres time at the Summer Super Series opener at the AIS Track on Thursday night, with the teenager set for another showdown against national-record holder Bisset.
She ran 2.01.98 in what was her first 800-metres race of the season, giving her confidence to close down on the 1.59.50 qualifier soon.
"It was the quickest time I've started the season with, I think it's positive signs leading into Thursday's race," Small said.
"I'm looking to have a good hit-out, I don't know if we'll have a pacer or anything yet but I know it's going to be quick.
"I think all of us are capable of getting closer to qualifying, I know Catriona has already got it. I'm trying to narrow down the time, whether that's on Thursday or later in the season - the time is definitely there and I can get it at some point."
In the men's 800-metres, Peter Bol is will run that distance for the first time competitively this season after clocking 3.42.05 in the 1500-metres last month.
Brandon Starc and Nicola McDermott will return to action in the high jump, Jack Hale and Rohan Browning will contest the 100-metres sprint in pursuit of an Olympic qualifier.
SUMMER SUPER SERIES
Thursday at the AIS Track, 5:30pm - 8:30pm. Tickets available online via Athletics Australia.
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
