Linden Hall has rocketed to third spot on the Australian women's 1500m all-time list with a brilliant run on her Diamond League debut.
Hall slashed more than three seconds off her personal best by clocking four minutes 01.78 seconds in the US state of Oregon on Saturday (Sunday AEST) - an effort that will almost certainly ensure the 24-year-old Victorian makes her Olympic debut in Rio in August.
Melissa Duncan has already been guaranteed a spot in the women's 1500m in Rio, with Hall best-placed to claim one of the other two vacancies.
"I had a couple of great runs here during college but coming back for this has been unreal," said Hall, who finished fifth in Eugene in a lightning-fast race won by Kenyan Faith Kipyegon in a national record of 3:56.41.
"The positive vibe contributed to it all coming together," she said.
"The pace to go through 800 metres was something similar to my PB at that distance so I knew it was going to be quick.
"I can't put into words what it means if this result will give me a chance to compete at the Olympics.
"My mum told me the other day that when we were watching Atlanta in 1996 I said I wanted to compete for medals like the people on TV and it's probably been at the back of my mind since then.
"It's hard to believe that it is now a realistic possibility."
The only women ahead of Hall on the Australian all-time list are retired duo Sarah Jamison and Margaret Crowley. All three are members of the Athletics Essendon club.
Teenager Matthew Denny can also start making plans for Rio after bettering the men's discus qualifying mark for the first time thanks to his personal best of 65.37m in Salinas, California.
Denny, who turns 20 on Thursday, was rewarded for his decision to extend his stay in the US and compete in an extra couple of meets, having twice previously gone close to the qualifying mark of 65m.
In other weekend action, Regan Lamble set another Olympic qualifier in the women's 20km walk at a meet in Spain.
Lamble finished eighth in 1:30.58, with the remaining vacancies in the walks for the Rio Games to be filled in the coming weeks.
THE RACE FOR WOMEN's 1500M SPOTS IN RIO (QUALIFYING MARK 4:07.00)
Melissa Duncan - already selected
Linden Hall - 4:01.78
Jenny Blundell - 4:04.62
Zoe Buckman - 4:06.30
Heidi See - yet to get the qualifier, but as national champion is guaranteed an Olympic berth if she runs less than 4:07.00 before July 12
AUSTRALIA's FASTEST WOMEN EVER in 1500M
Sarah Jamieson - 4:00.93 on July 25, 2006
Margaret Crowley - 4:01.34 on July 6, 1996
Linden Hall - 4:01.78 on May 28, 2016
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