Paralympian Carlee Beattie has produced a world record on the first night of the Australian Athletics Championships at Olympic Park as big-name sprinter Sally Pearson enjoyed a positive start to a big meet for her.
Although Pearson is the biggest attraction over the weekend, the biggest performance on Friday night belonged to dual world championship medalist Beattie, however, as she broke her own record in the F46 long jump event.
It was only a month ago that Queenslander Beattie beat the previous world mark of 5.84m at the Sydney Track Classic, but she went better than that at Olympic Park as she leapt 5.89cm.
"It's so awesome, I am really excited - things are coming together nicely," Beattie said.
"Europe is the next stop, we are headed there in July and hopefully a bigger jump could happen there with the magic six metres somewhere in my future."
Beattie was joined on the podium by Jess Gallagher (VIS, 5.59m, w: +2.3) and Stephanie Schweitzer (NSW, 4.81m, w: -0.1).
Meanwhile in the men's long jump, the world and world indoor championships bronze medallist Mitchell Watt (QAS) was joined by AIS scholarship holder Robbie Crowther (AIS, 7.94m) on the automatic qualifiers list thanks to a 7.78m leap in the first round of competition.
Fabrice Lapierre (NSWIS), who adjusted his run up after an underwhelming 7.34m leap on his first attempt, then soared 7.74m in the second round - 24 centimetres beyond the automatic advance mark - to move into the final and setup an exciting showdown between the trio on Sunday.
On the track, Delhi Commonwealth Games gold medalist Pearson (QAS) clocked 11.69 (w: -1.3) to qualify fastest for the women's 100m final ahead of Melissa Breen (ACT, 11.80, w: -0.9) and Charlotte Van Veenendaal (QLD, 11.80, w: -0.7).
Looking to become the first athlete since Pam Ryan to win three individual gold medals at the same national championships, Pearson and her seven race program across sprints and hurdles has been specifically setup so that she can test herself.
"I wanted a challenge, especially with the sometimes less than perfect conditions for sprinting here and the three-race program will do that for me," Pearson said.
“With 200m, the furthest I run, I am confident that I can recover pretty quick which is good, especially with the gap between the two finals on Sunday being only forty minutes."
"I'm looking forward to hopefully creating some history - that's what is really motivating me this weekend."
Pearson's program continues on Saturday with the semi-final and final for the women's 100m, before heats and a final in the women's 200m and 100m hurdles on Sunday.
In other Friday night highlights, Tamsyn Lewis (VIC) advanced through the rounds of the 400m (54.52) and 800m (2:05.75).
Tim Driesen (ACT) won the men's hammer throw title after heaving 68.63m in the first round of competition, with Simon Wardhaugh (QLD, 68.59m) second and Mark Dickson (NSW, 62.67m) third.
Nicholas Hum, meanwhile, won the men's ambulant long jump after soaring 6.11m.