LISA Corrigan isn't taking anything for

granted in the lead-up to next year's Beijing

Olympics.

She knows how quickly things can change.

But in terms of her athletics career, the

Gods are finally smiling on Corrigan, the

Australian 1500m champion.

The 22-year-old from Canowindra, who

formerly attended Bathurst's MacKillop

College, returned to her home town last week

to catch up with family.

Also visiting Orange, she spoke about the

upward spiral in her career which climaxed

earlier this month when she beat rival Sarah

Jamieson to win her first national track and

field 1500m title.

She's happier and healthier after overcoming

an eating disorder that saw her weight

drop to 43kg a year ago.

After making her first Commonwealth

Games 1500m final last year, Corrigan has

taken 2007 by storm.

She's broken the 11-year-old Australian

mile record, ran a world championship qualifying

time and won her first Australian open

title.

Corrigan said although she finished 12th

and last in the 1500m final at the Melbourne

Commonwealth Games, the experience was

all the motivation she needed to kick on with

her career.

"At Comm Games I wasn't at my healthiest,"

she said. "A few different things were

going on and it was my first big competition.

I was pretty nervous and I just didn't perform

... I pushed it too hard.

"[But] getting out there racing, it was still a

good experience.

"I knew I could run a lot better and I was

doing alright.

"I'm healthier now and I suppose confident,

I can go to the start line now and know

I've done everything."

The world championships in Osaka in

August will be another milestone for the

Canberra-based Corrigan before she starts

thinking about the Olympics.

As someone who was struck down with

appendicitis, glandular fever and stress fractures

when she first went to Canberra to take

up a scholarship with the Australian Institute

Of Sport, Corrigan knows a lot can happen

between now and Beijing.

"I've been saying to a few people if the

Olympics were next week I'd be in the team

but they're a year and a half away and anything

can happen," Corrigan, who ran 4:15.25

to win the Australian title but has a personal

best time of 4:05.25, said.

"You've just got to be running really well at

the time."