Games’ push heating up
Toowoomba throwers in medal hunt
ATHLETICS: The new year is about to heat up for a number of Darling Downs athletes with important assignments looming at this weekend’s Queensland Open Championships in Brisbane.
Matthew Denny, Conor McLoughlin, Lara Nielsen and Ellie Bowyer will be looking to hit the ground running in their first major throwing events for 2018.
For Denny and Nielsen, it will be the next step in what they hope will be Gold Coast Commonwealth Games’ appearances in April.
Denny will be chasing a confidence-building victory in both discus and hammer while Nielsen will be out to keep her fellow Games hopefuls on notice with a strong hammer showing.
Nineteen-year-old McLoughlin is stepping to open Queensland titles’ discus company for the first time as he looks to keep pressing for World Junior Championships selection in July.
Fellow junior Bowyer, 18, is also taking on open company as she strives to find her best form in the women’s javelin.
The quartet’s coach Grahame Pitt said there was plenty riding on their performances this weekend, in particular, Denny and Nielsen who need to keep producing quality results to cement a Games’ berth.
“For Conor and Ellie, this weekend is mainly about gaining experience at senior level,” Pitt said.
“But there is a lot hinging on them performing strongly as well.
“Conor has already thrown three World Junior qualifying distances and is currently fifth in world under 20 rankings, and only a few centimetres off fourth.
“If both Conor and Ellie threw exceptionally well this weekend they would be outside chances of medalling.
“But what they can also do with big throws is qualify for this month’s open nationals.”
Pitt said Denny and Nielsen were preparing to meet stiff opposition on their Commonwealth Games’ path.
“Lara can expect to do well and Matt should win hammer,” Pitt said.
“But there are four very good discus throwers in the country at present which keeps the pressure on everyone.
“Both Matt and Lara have thrown their Commonwealth Games qualifying distances, but that doesn’t guarantee you getting through.
“It will all come down now to how they perform at the nationals.
“There is only a limited number of spots available at the Gold Coast and with plenty of quality athletes in contention, no-one can afford any slip-ups.”