Kiwi sprint sensation Eddie Osei-Nketia feels like he has his mojo back.
The teenager equalled his personal best of 10.19s for victory at the Sir Graham Douglas International Meet in Auckland, putting recent setbacks behind him.
Osei-Nketia crossed the finish-line in second place, but was promoted to victory, after winner Australian Jack Hale was disqualified for a false start.
His time was slightly wind-assisted, and ineligible for record or ranking purposes, but his relief afterwards was obvious.
"This time last year, I was running 10.3," he reflected. "This year, I'm running 10.19s - I feel like it's more promising for next month.
"From now on, we need to keep consistent, keep mentally strong and don't change a thing."
Osei Nketia, 18, won the NZ, Australian and Oceania titles last year, qualifying for the world championships in Doha, but could not progress past heats with his 10.24s.
Last month, he was upset by Auckland rival Hamish Gill in the Potts Classic at Hastings, planting the seeds of doubt. Gill was the next best Kiwi on Sunday, finishing fifth in 10.48s.
Osei-Nketia's latest performance seems to set him up to defend his titles this summer.
"I felt like I ran pretty good," he said. "I haven't run like that in a long time.
"I felt I finally ran a good race, my own race - it felt like a breakthrough."
With results counting towards Olympic qualifying, several others promoted their chances of competing at Tokyo in July/August.
Former world shot-put champion Tom Walsh continued to improve in the third outing of his 2020 campaign, tossing 21.66m for victory, but still well short of his best.
"I think it's time," he said. "It's a long time until the Olympic Games, but also I want to be throwing well now and I'm not.
"I know I could be, if my timing's on and my timing's not quite on now, but it's frustratingly close."
Two-time Olympic champion Dame Val Adams surpassed the women's shot-put qualifying mark with 18.73m, as she returns from the birth of her second child, finishing second behind Canadian Sarah Mitton (18.84m).
Olympic silver medallist Nick Willis held on for victory in the men's 1500m with 3m 41.77s, striving for his fourth Games.
Portia Bing stormed home for 400m hurdles victory in 56.81s, heading off Aussie Sara Klein by almost a second.
