Jessica Hull has completed a successful reconnaissance mission and opened her bid for a Commonwealth Games middle-distance double in style, marching into the women's mile final in Glasgow.
Claudia Hollingsworth progressed fastest as winner of the quicker second heat on Thursday, clocking four minutes 31.17 seconds.
Birmingham 2022 bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell (4:34.87) went through alongside Hull (4:34.20) as they eye a possible Australian sweep of the mile.
Hull, who returns for the 5000m final in the evening session, was importantly able to conserve energy and familiarise herself with the new Scotstoun Stadium track.
It has already produced some outstanding results in difficult conditions, with 100m medallists Lachie Kennedy (men's silver) and Torrie Lewis (women's bronze) setting national records earlier in the program.
"That track is fast. It doesn't feel real when you stride out on it," Hull said.
"It's got something to it. We knew that from Lachie and Torrie, but to feel it first hand, I'm excited for some fast racing over the next couple of days."
Olympic silver medallist (1500m) Hull raced alongside Scotland's Jemma Reekie throughout their heat as The Proclaimers' I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) blared from the stadium speakers.
"It was very slow early but it was as fun as it could be running next to a Scottish woman," Hull said.
"I got to stay next to her the whole time and keep the crowd engaged and pull off their energy rather than using my own."
The 1988 alternative rock hit was an obvious nod to the mile's sentimental reinstatement at the Glasgow Games and Caldwell admitted she couldn't get it out of her head.
"I thought about it mid-race and I couldn't believe it," Caldwell said.
"I was like, 'no, concentrate here.' But it actually brought a really good energy so I don't mind it.
"Jess and I got the job done and hopefully we got it done as comfortably as possible."
Hull's biggest threats in the 5000m final might come in the form of her teammates.
National record holder Rose Davies will back up after winning 10,000m gold and Linden Hall completes a formidable Australian trio.
Earlier, Michelle Jenneke qualified sixth fastest for the women's 100m hurdles with a significant tailwind in 12.72 (+4.3m/s).
"The wind was really pushing us onto the hurdles. It was a good time though and I'm really happy to get that big Q through to the final and to be able to come back tonight," Jenneke said.
"Hopefully it's a little bit less windy but I did really prepare for that tailwind and I think I handled it better than some of the other athletes.
"I get pretty jealous of the sprinters (because) when they get a tailwind they know they're going to run fast. We get a tailwind we're like, 'let's try not to die today'."
Jenneke is chasing her first Games medal after near misses in her previous three appearances, finishing fourth in 2018 and fifth in 2014 and 2022.
Cameron McEntyre (78.91m) qualified sixth for the men's javelin final behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage (82.84m).
Thomas Reynolds (45.63secs) qualified for the men's 400m final but Reece Holder (45.99) missed out.
Meanwhile, the final of the women's 1500m T54 will be re-raced on Friday night (AEST) after Australian veteran Eliza Ault-Connell's successful protest.
Ault-Connell was taken out by Canada's Nandini Sharma, who was disqualified.
Scotland's Melanie Woods crossed the line first in the initial race and looms as the rival to beat for Ault-Connell, who at 44 years old is at her fourth Games.
