The redemption of Peter Bol's career has continued, with the three-time Olympian reclaiming the national 800 metres at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth. Bol clocked 1:43.79 to win the men's 800m final on Sunday afternoon, slicing 0.20 off Joseph Deng's national mark set in 2003. He could have posted an even quicker time had he not slowed down to celebrate what was a popular victory with the WA Athletics Stadium crowd. Paris Olympian Peyton Craig finished second in a personal best of 1:44.07, with Luke Boyes third with a time of 1:44.50. All three athletes recorded qualifying performances for September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Bol executed the perfect race plan, hitting the bell lap comfortably in second place. He took the lead at the 600-metre mark when he released his kick, before holding off the fast-finishing Craig and pointing to the grandstand as he celebrated his win. "I didn't think about the national record, I was thinking about winning my fourth national title," Bol told reporters after the final. "I knew I had to get out hard and the boys would chase. I didn't want to get stuck at the back." Bol has endured mixed fortunes since finishing fourth in the men's 800m final at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He placed seventh in the final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene but was at the centre of a highly publicised doping saga the following year, from which he emerged with his name cleared. "I should have been at this level a few years ago; obviously, I had some interruptions," Bol said. "But to be back here, to know this is where I belong is great. "I always knew I could do it, it was just a matter of time." Bol, who celebrated with family members immediately after Sunday's final, said he now adopted a simple approach to his athletics career. "Keep smiling, be happy and just enjoy it," Bol said. In the women's 800m final, Abbey Caldwell led home Olympian Claudia Hollingsworth in a thrilling finish to claim the national championship. Caldwell launched her kick with 200m remaining in the race, winning in a time of 2:00.51. Hollingsworth was second in 2:00.90, with Tess Kirksopp-Cole (2:02.26) third.