#AthleticsGold: Denny claims fourth hammer throw title

Matt Denny (Qld) claimed a fourth-straight Australian hammer through title in the morning session of day two at the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships & Nomination Trial at Carrara Stadium.

It was the first of two events for Denny these championships, with the Allora local back in action during Friday’s evening session in the discus.

Denny throwing 72.78m won with a clear margin over Jack Dalton (65.78m - Vic) and Costa Kousparis (65.42m - NSW). The winning throw was an A qualifier in just his second attempt for the day

“I’m in better shape than what I showed today which is a bit frustrating for me, but I just wanted to get the job done,” the 21-year-old said.

“Now I’ve just got to focus on tonight. It will be a good comp, I’m in good form and so I just need to get home and get recovered – I’ll have a bit of a sleep, watch some movies and chill out in the pool.”

In other events, Lauren Wells (ACT) cruised through her first round of the 400m hurdles, fastest qualifier for the semi-finals in 58.06. In the men’s 400m hurdles, Leigh Bennett (51.08 - NSW) bettered Ian Dewhurst (51.50 – WA).

New Australian record-holder Kathryn Mitchell (Vic) 57.54m and Kelsey Lee-Roberts (ACT) 53.33m eased through to the Saturday’s final of the women's javelin.

Matthew Ramsden (WA) running in the last of three heats in the men’s 1500m posted a time of 3:42.39 to be fastest man into Sunday’s final. Although originally entered, Morgan McDonald (NSW) withdrew after coming away victorious from last night’s 5000m. Ryan Gregson (NSW), chasing a third successive Australian title, was second fastest in 3:43.26, followed by Sam McEntee (3:43.97 - Vic), James Hansen (Tas - 3:42.45) and Jordan Williamsz (Vic - 3:43.34).

After three events in the decathlon Alec Diamond (NSW) leads on 2617 points, with Olympian Cedric Dubler (Qld) on 2568pts, followed by Queensland-based Brit John Lane on 2467pts and Kyle Cranston (NSW) 2454. Dubler is clearly in good form, currently 50 points ahead of the PB (8113) he set at the 2016 Australian Championships. In the 100m, he clocked a new PB of 10.63, bettering his previous best by .08; a second personal best came in the shot put with a throw of 13.01 (improving his old mark by 71cm). Dubler’s effort in the long jump was 7.58.

With the just the javelin and 800m remaining in the heptathlon, teenager Celeste Mucci (Vic) leads comfortably with a score of 4399 points, ahead of defending champion Alysha Burnett (NSW), Canberra’s Andrea Thompson 4198 and surprise podium contender Kiara Reddingius (WA) 4169.

Catch all the action from tonight's session from 5.00pm local time via the livestream at live.athletics.com.au