Australian middle-distance star Claudia Hollingsworth has stepped up in distance in style to win the national 3000m crown at the Hobart Track Classic.
The 20-year-old Victorian is the national record holder and an Olympic semi-finalist over 800m.
But she looked just as assured in the 3000m on Saturday night, clocking a personal best of eight minutes 37.42 seconds to move to fifth on the Australian alltime list and consign Abbey Caldwell and Georgia Griffith to the minor placings.
"I came into this race just to get a bit of experience, so to come away with the win is really exciting," said Hollingsworth, who also has Australian 800m and mile titles to her name.
"It's only the start of the year for me so to be getting these kinds of times is such a positive.
"It's been tough in training but a lot of fun, and I can't wait to keep going for the rest of the year."
Callum Davies won the men's 3000m title in 7:48.21.
In other action, sprinter Lachlan Kennedy made a successful return to the track after an eight-month injury layoff, winning the men's 200m in 20.43 ahead of Calab Law (20.70).
Kennedy shot to prominence last year when he became only the second Australian to better the 10-second mark for the 100m.
But he was unable to compete at the 2025 world championships in Tokyo because of a stress fracture in his back.
"I'm definitely feeling tired; it's been a while," Kennedy said.
"It was a good way to blow the cobwebs out, and I think not bad at all for my first race back."
Paris Olympics bronze medallist Matt Denny won the men's discus with 68.74m, his second biggest throw on Australian soil.
Peter Bol eased past his teenaged training partner Bob Abdelrahim in the home straight to win the men's 800m in 1:47.07.
