Coming off a pair of Australian record-breaking performances in January, the Albion Park talent fell into a lull.

Her results dropped off, training became a grind, confidence levels tumbled.

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At the time, Hull couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong and she came close to withdrawing from the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Belgrade.

Slowly the 25-year-old lifted herself off the canvas and she returned to form at the titles, finishing sixth in the women's 3000-metre race.

It's a period in which Hull struggled, but it's one she now looks to as a vital learning experience.

"I'm not typically an athlete that is inconsistent and I was inconsistent this indoor season," Hull said. "I started strong, then I had some shockers and I came back strong.

"It's something I need to get better at, not letting a low rattle me as much as it did. I need to look at the body of work and know I'm fine and it was just an off day.

"That's my biggest take away, not doubting myself and trusting my gut. If I feel like I need to be doing things a little bit differently, making sure we start to implement those changes."

Hull returned home last week on a high, her result in Belgrade her best performance at a major international competition.

Arriving in Albion Park has allowed her to pinpoint what went wrong in February.

Based in the US, the athlete had spent 13 months overseas, Australia's closed borders preventing her from returning home.

It was a period in which Hull enjoyed a hugely successful Olympics, making the final and setting an Australian record in the semi-final, before she launched into preparations for this year's outdoor World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

Eventually, as the time away from Wollongong dragged on, training became a grind and racing lost ts sparkle.

Now, the fire is back and it's burning bright.

A rejuvenated Hull won't have to wait long for the chance to hit the track, the athlete chasing gold in the 5000m event at this week's Australian Championships.

"The main goal is to win, that puts you in the box seat to run at the World Championships. If we get good conditions, there's a group that can push for the standard, none of us have it yet.

"That's not really a big concern on Saturday. It would be nice to get it out of the way and get yourself on the plane, but the win is the most important piece right now."

Hull is leading the Illawarra charge at this week's Australian Championships, with fellow Olympian Sarah Carli chasing victory in the women's 400m hurdles.

Jye Edwards has withdrawn from the competition, an Achilles injury rearing its head at the worst possible moment. Despite the setback, Edwards is confident it won't derail his path to the World Championships and Commonwealth Games.

"It's super frustrating and hasn't come at a good time," Edwards said. "Hopefully I'll get it right quick and then we can get overseas and I can try run quick. Missing nationals, I'll have to try make the teams that way."

The action kicked off earlier this week, Albion Park's Delta Amidzovski blitzing her rivals in the under 20 100m hurdles final to book her place in the Australian team to compete at the World Junior Championships.

Hull can move one step closer to competing at the senior world titles with a win on Saturday.

While she's only racing in the 5000m this week, Hull aims to contest the 1500m and 5000m in Oregon.

The World Championships mark the start of a bumper few weeks for Australian athletes, with the Commonwealth Games and Monaco Diamond League following in quick succession.

"I've been sixth at a World Championships now and I've been able to have a good look at some of the women that will make up that 1500m final," Hull said. "Looking at being better than sixth in the final of the 1500 would be huge. If I swing big and miss, I've got to be proud of that.

"At the Commonwealth Games there's a chance to have two Australian medalists if you look at Linden Hall and my rankings. It could be a big day for Australian women's 1500m running.

"Championship racing can be fast or slow but Monaco we know will be fast. It's a good chance after all those championship races to go out and essentially run a time trial and see where that puts us."

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