Denny off overseas chasing qualifier

The wind will blow Olympic Games hopeful Matthew Denny back to the United States next week.

The Allora discus thrower competed in the US a month ago and produced a personal best throw in competition of 64.77 metres to fall just 23cm short of an Olympic Games qualifying distance.

He returned to Australia to weigh up his next option with coach Grahame Pitt and while staying put, going back to the US and heading to Europe were all options, a brief American assault could hold the key to Olympic qualification.

Denny is currently ranked in the top 32 throwers in the world which he needs to be to compete in Rio, but as he does not have an Olympic qualifier, he would have to take a gamble on rivals not overtaking him in the world rankings.

The youngster is not taking the chance.

Instead, he and Pitt will fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday for two competitions in California.

The lower cost in getting to the US as opposed to Europe, and wind conditions that will favour throwers persuaded Denny to have another crack in the US.

“On the west coast of the United States in California there will be quality fields,” Pitt said.

“Many, many throwers head to the United States where they have circles that are designed basically around the winds.”

Pitt thought Denny was a chance to post an Olympic qualifier.

“He is throwing very, very well at the moment,” Pitt said. “It is just a matter of trying replicate things. Hopefully we’ll pull it off.”