The 2021 Track and Field National Championships have been circled on the calendar from the moment they were announced, especially with the cancellation of the 2020 edition.

It's the one meet of the year where every athlete is trying to peak - there's no foxing or waiting until later in the season - this is the weekend where it all needs to come together if you wish to be boarding a flight in July. Of course, there are other pathways to Tokyo but in an uncertain world a bird is best off in your hand...or something.

Anyway, here are our favourite images from four wild days in Sydney.

Thursday April 15

While today doesn't hold any finals, it does give us a glimpse at some of the brightest stars.

The 400m heats are headlined by Bendere Oboya and Steve Solomon, while the men's 800m promises to be a mouthwatering final later in the weekend. Peter Bol, young gun Jack Lunn, hometown boy Lachie Raper, and Commonwealth Games medallist and Rio Olympian Luke Mathews will all be worth keeping an eye on.

We also have heats of the women's 1500m - can anyone catch Linden Hall? Jenny Blundell would like to think so.

FRIDAY APRIL 16

Our first look at some of the sprint stars today with heats of the 100m - all eyes are on Rohan Browning and Hana Basic given what they have already done this domestic season.

We also get our first glimpse at Catriona Bisset - the National Champ from 2019, Bisset has broken the national record in the 800m since she last had the opportunity to race for a national title.

The men's 1500m heats are promising to be mouth watering - Stewy McSweyn, Matt Ramsden, and Jye Edwards all wanting to make this their own.

SATURDAY APRIL 17

The first finals for the open competitors, with the men's 800m and women's 1500m two standouts, as well as of course the 100m finals as the last events of the evening.

The 800m featured Peter Bol as a hot favourite, with young Victorian Jack Lunn an outside chance. While in the 1500m, it was Linden Hall's race to lose.

SUNDAY APRIL 18

A huge day - the steeplechase finals, Liz Clay in the hurdles, the women's 800m, and the men's 1500m final. Sydney once again turned on spectacular sunny skies for the final day of the open competition.