A need for more speed is driving Olympian Anneliese Rubie-Renshaw as she aims to break into the top echelon of the world's one-lap female athletes.
A 400 metres semi-finalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and the 2015 world championship, the 26-year-old clocked a personal best of 51.51sec during last year's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
That time came in the semi-finals. She finished seventh in the final in 52.03.
After she started the current Australian campaign racing over 200m, Rubie-Renshaw made a successful season debut in the 400m at Saturday's Sydney Track classic, winning in 52.57 in windy and wet conditions.
"I think without these sorts of conditions I probably could have run 52 flat," Rubie-Renshaw said.
"After the Comm Games last year one of my biggest takeaways was I need to be quicker, not just over the 400, I need to be fast over 200.
"So, I've been working on my speed and doing 200s was part of the plan, just to finish that speed section off before I start the fours."
Rubie-Renshaw is trying to add muscle to her frame and improve her strength so her body can cope with the demands of speed training.
"I reckon last year I probably could have run 51.3, so I'm hoping to go close to or under 51 flat," she said.
"Because that puts me in a good position to maybe make a final, you never know, run in the Diamond League; that's my main goal."
Another Rio Olympian to win on Saturday night was Ryan Gregson, who took out the 1500m.
Gregson lost his national indoor 1500m record last week to Stewart McSweyn, who was also in action on Saturday.
Tasmanian McSweyn was beaten into second place by Jordan Guzman in the Australian 5000m mens championship race in Sydney.
McSweyn's national record set in England, when he finished third in an indoor 1500m race won in world record time, has him confident he can mix it with the very best, as he strives for success in his main event over 5000m.
"I know in the big races I can bring it, I can compete with the guys that win the medals," he said.
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