Double world record-holder Wang Junxia fired off an Atlanta warning in Nanjing, China yesterday as she won the 10,000m title at the Chinese athletics championships.
But while Wang made sure of an Olympics berth by recording 31 minutes 1.76 seconds, Qu Yunxia, the 1,500m world record holder and the spearhead of Ma Junren's new stable of runners, saw her Olympic hopes evaporate by trailing in last in her race.
Wang's success will only add to the controversial coach's sense of failure since she acrimoniously split from him last year after a row over prize money and his tough training regime.