Denny bound for medal round as Kennedy prepares to soar

Tokyo fourth-place getter Matthew Denny will have medals on his mind tonight as he gets ready to launch large in the discus cage, while 2022 World Championships bronze medallist Nina Kennedy goes on show for the world to see on Day Three of the World Athletics Championships. 

A year after missing an Olympic medal by a mere five-centimetres, Denny (QLD, Dale Stevenson) stepped into the discus cage at the Oregon World Championships seeking redemption, but instead left Hayward Field angry and unsatisfied with his sixth-place finish. Fuelled by his frustration, the Allora product has overhauled his training regime, resulting in his most consistent season yet and is now ready to make his reunion with his rivals count. 

“Last year really pissed me off. I knew I had a better throw there because I was in the best form for that time,” Denny said.

“In the past, I’ve always been in the best position possible leading into majors but I’ve never been able to convert the throw that I know I’ve had in my pocket. I should have been in the medals last year. Being consistent is great but I’m not here to get 66-metres.”

Stepping into the cage with a personal best of 67.26m from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Denny is ranked ninth amongst the field of 12 on season's best. The Australian will face the likes of Daniel Stahl (SWE, 71.86m), reigning world champion Kristjan Ceh (SLO, 71.86m) plus world number three in Lithuania’s Mykolas Alenka (71.00m); all known for their gargantuan throws and ability to perform on a big stage. 

“You’ve got your main three who are your predominant favourites with 70 or 71-metre throws, but I don’t think that’s out of reach. A lot of people think that those guys are too good but I call BS,” Denny said.

“The standard is high but either catch up or be left behind, and I don’t want that so I’m going to step up to the challenge here in Budapest.”

Global medallist Nina Kennedy (WA, Paul Burgess) makes a triumphant return to the world stage tonight, less than a year after soaring to bronze in the Women’s Pole Vault at the Oregon edition of the Championships.   

With a string of world-class performances under her belt in 2023, including first place at the Paris Diamond League and an Olympic qualifier of 4.73m in Jockgrim, Germany last fortnight, the Commonwealth champion and 2022 Diamond League winner will enter the runway with confidence as she begins her tilt for the title in the qualifying round. 

“I’m going there to win,” Kennedy said. 

“Obviously last year I came third, and I think that anything less than that, I’d be a little bit disappointed. The women’s pole vault field is a little bit hotter than last year so I’m going to have to jump really well but there is no reason I can’t do it.”

Now world number two, Kennedy will be fancied to blitz her first day of competition before looking out for reigning Olympic and world champion Katie Moon (USA), Olympic bronze medallist and trans-Tasman rival Eliza McCartney (NZ) plus Finland’s Wilma Murto, who have all cleared heights of 4.80m and higher this year, in comparison to Kennedy’s 4.77m mark from Paris. 

The track action will be led by Illawarra’s Sarah Carli (NSW, Melissa Smith) who begins her third World Athletics Championships campaign tonight in the first round of the Women’s 400m Hurdles. At 28-years-old, the Financial Planner is in career-best form with a 54.66-second personal best posted in June and will be looking for a finals berth after being run-out in the semi-finals this time last year. 

For full start lists for Day 3 of the World Athletics Championships, click HERE. Australians can tune in to the 2023 World Athletics Championships via SBS or beIN Sport, with each session broadcast live and free. 

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 21/8/2023