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Browning, Barber excel before world champs

John SalvadoAAP
Rohan Browning (l) has clocked his fastest 100m time since last year's Tokyo Olympics.
Camera IconRohan Browning (l) has clocked his fastest 100m time since last year's Tokyo Olympics. Credit: AAP

High-profile Australian duo Rohan Browning and Kelsey-Lee Barber have produced hugely encouraging performances in their last hit-outs before the world athletics championships in Oregon.

Sprint star Browning has clocked 10.08 seconds at a Continental Tour Challenger meet meet in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland - his fastest 100m time since his sizzling 10.01 at last year's Tokyo Olympics.

It was a timely return to form for the Sydneysider, who had not gone quicker than 10.28 in any of his four previous outings in Europe.

Browning was fifth in a race won by Sri Lanka's Yupun Abeykoon (9.96), who became the first man from South Asia to break the 10-second barrier.

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Cuban Reynier Mena finished second in 9.99 and then went on to clock a slick 19.63 in the 200m.

Noted big-event performer Barber - who will be defending the world title she won in brilliant style three years ago in Doha - won the women's javelin on Sunday (Monday AEST) with a best throw of 61.40m at a meet in Edmonton, Canada.

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"A great final competition before Eugene. She's ready to go," tweeted Barber's coach and husband Mike Barber.

Earlier in the weekend, middle-distance pair Jessica Hull and Peter Bol continued their impressive 2022 campaigns.

Hull broke the national mile record with a time of 4:19.89 in Beverton, Washington.

The US-based Hull now holds the Australian records for the 1500m, mile, 3000m and 5000m and the indoor records for the 1500m, mile and 3000m.

Bol - who shapes as a genuine medal shot in the 800m in Eugene and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham - dipped under the 1:45 barrier for the 10th time in his career with a winning effort of 1:44.26 in Belgium.

The Australian squad will now head to Seattle for a staging camp ahead of the July 15-24 world championships in Eugene.

The final team is set to be confirmed on Wednesday, once a couple of appeals against non-selection have been heard.

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