After going frustratingly close to the world championships qualifying mark on several occasions this year, Australia's best 400m hurdler Lauren Wells has finally caught a break.
But not before enduring another agonising minute or two after claiming victory at the Melbourne World Challenge on Saturday night.
The trackside clock showed a winning time of 56.27 seconds - which would have made it the fourth time Wells had run within a tenth of a second of the standard of 56.20 for August's world championships in Beijing.
But her frustration turned to joy when the time was amended to 56.19.
"I can relax now," said Wells.
"All along I knew I would be able to get the time, it was more that everybody else almost didn't now what to say.
"It was like `bad luck you missed again' or `you'll get it next time' but now I've done it, everyone's happy and I can go into races with nothing to lose and try new things.
"This year is obviously all about Beijing and as a stepping stone to Rio."
The 26-year-old Wells has been a mainstay of Australian teams for the past five years, although she has yet to advance beyond the semi-final stage at world or Olympic level.
Another of Australia's better 400m hurdlers, Jess Gulli, switched to the 400m flat on Saturday night at Lakeside Stadium and stormed home from eight to claim a shock win in a personal best of 53.22.
Among those left in Gulli's wake were reigning national title-holder Morgan Mitchell and 18-time Australian champion Tamsyn Lewis-Manou, returning to the sport following the birth of her first child.
Gulli is yet to decide whether to focus on the 400m flat or hurdles at next weekend's Australian titles in Brisbane, but she is eyeing a spot in the 4x400m relay team at the world titles in Beijing.
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