Two weeks after walking out on his coach Nic Bideau, Australian Luke Mathews has turned his year around in spectacular fashion by clocking the fastest 1500m qualifying time at the world athletics championships.
Mathews surged to the line to win the quickest of the three heats in three minutes 38.19 seconds.
Fellow Australian Jordan Williamsz also advanced to the semis on Friday (early Saturday AEST).
But their more decorated countryman, Rio Olympics finalist Ryan Gregson, was eliminated after finishing a hugely disappointing ninth in his heat.
All three Australians were members of the Bideau stable, before Mathews decided a fortnight ago to cut his ties after a two-year stint with the respected coach.
"We were going through some tough times, we weren't getting along," the 22-year-old said on Thursday.
"I left our training camp at 6am in the morning and caught the first train to Madrid and then off to (the Australian pre-championships training camp in) Tonbridge.
"I felt like I just needed to just click refresh."
Mathews turned to his mother and former coach Elizabeth Mathews for advice.
Geoff Wightman, the father of British 1500m runner Jake Wightman, was also tapped for help.
"I've gone into this with no coach and then two coaches and now I'm in the semi," said Mathews.
"It's all well and good to be excited about the heat but there's 24 people in the semi and they have to somehow fit into 12 (for the final).
"It's going to be tough."
Mathews stayed near the lead throughout his heat and was able to pounce in the final straight.
It was a far cry from his bitterly disappointing display at the Rio Olympics, when he finished way off the pace in the 800m and 1500m.
"It was just tough," said Mathews.
"In the three or four weeks afterwards I put on eight kilos. I was going out, I was hungover every day.
"I just pretty much told myself I didn't want to be disappointed leaving overseas again."
The 24-year-old Williamsz was also impressive on Thursday night, coming home strong to claim the sixth and final automatic qualifying spot in his heat in 3:46.11.
But it was a horror night for Gregson, who last year in Rio became Australia's first men's 1500m Olympic finalist in 40 years.
Gregson ran at the rear of the field and was unable to make up the necessary ground in the final straight as he finished ninth.
Australian Hamish Peacock was somewhat unlucky to miss a spot in the men's javelin final.
Peacock threw 82.46m in qualifying - less than two metres shy of his PB - but he did not advance as 13 others bettered the automatic qualifying mark of 83m.
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