Denny’s throwing down the gauntlet
DARLING Downs thrower Matthew Denny will aim to become the first man since 1938 to win a medal in the hammer throw and discus at the same Commonwealth Games.
The discus preliminaries at Carrara Stadium represent a signpost on the freeway of ambition for Denny, 21, the Allora farmer’s son who is game enough to say publicly that his ambition is to win an Olympic gold medal in both events at the same Games one day.
Denny won a silver medal in Sunday’s hammer throw and is national champion in that event and discus. He is not inclined to say he regards either event as his first-string chance internationally.
Five Gold Coast Games discus rivals have a better seasonbest distance than Denny’s 64.03m, including Brisbanebased teammate Benn Harradine (64.67).
“I don’t really prioritise one over the other,’’ said Denny, a former world under-18 discus champion.
“Discus and hammer are quite different in technical issue. I manage the load of training for both and then competing. I’m just glad I turned it around, winning the medal after the world titles last year (in which Denny missed the discus final).
“Fedrick Dacres will be hard to beat. If I commit and get it right it will hopefully be a great comp.’’
Dacres, from Jamaica, is the favourite.
Queenslander Mitch Cooper, who has been at a US college, is Australia’s third rep.