Three years ago, Alex Eves was lucky to survive a car crash.
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The Dubbo resident had been on her way to compete in a triathlon, when she broke her neck in the incident.
The doctors said 'don't be surprised if you never walk again'.
But the more Alex heard words like 'won't', the more determined she became.
She took up athletics to support her rehabilitation and, just two years later, Alex is bound for her first Athletics Australia Championships as a para-athlete in the 100 and 200 metre sprint events.
She had already qualified prior to last weekend's state titles, but set new personal bests in both events, as well as running one of the fastest times ever recorded by an Australian in the open T36 200m.
And she's even a chance at becoming internationally classified, to make the cut for Tokyo 2020.
"It feels amazing - wow!" Alex said.
"The more and more people tell me I can't do things, by specialists, more and more I keep pushing forward so you've got to keep a positive mindset and keep around with positive people."
She has certainly found that at Dubbo Athletics, and credits coach Mark Penman - alongside personal trainer Aaron O'Neill and physiotherapist John Robbins - for getting her running again.
"[Athletics] gave me a goal as part of my rehabilitation," Alex said.
"It's actually helped strengthen and condition me back and helped rewire the brain, so helped me become a fitter and healthier person again and get as close to what I was pre-injury, which was pretty fit.
"It's helped me with my emotional and mental strength and helped me get back into everyday living and be in a social, supportive network."
Alex also hopes to inspire others to take up para-sports.
"There is a few [para-athletes in Dubbo] but more and more, as I think you talk about it, and get it more open and get people involved, the more they come together," she said.
"I hope I can advocate on behalf of other para-athletes."