ATHLETICS: Fresh off a European season of stunning consistency, Australian Dani Samuels is ready to challenge for a second discus world title in Beijing.
Samuels - who shot to prominence when she won world championships gold as a 21-year-old back in 2009 - had podium finishes in all but one of her Diamond League outings, with the only miss a solid fourth-placed effort in Lausanne.
Reigning world and Olympic champion Sandra Perkovic from Croatia remains the deserved gold-medal favourite, although Cuban Denia Caballero actually tops the season's rankings with 70.65m.
But Samuels, who is ranked fourth in the world courtesy of a throw of 66.21m in Sydney back in March, likes her chances too.
"For me, consistency is a really big thing leading into a major championships, so I know that on any given day I can throw 64 or 65 metres," she said ahead of Monday's qualifying round.
"I'm feeling really good and the whole point of this year is to peak for the major championships in Beijing.
"To be in the mix regularly is a big goal - on any given day, in any given conditions.
"My coach always says you get consistent at a certain level and when you freshen up and peak for a championships you can tend to peel off a PB."
Samuels will be one of eight Australians in action on a busy morning at the Bird's Nest.
Two-time Commonwealth champion Alana Boyd and teenager Nina Kennedy contest the women's vault qualifying, while former Commonwealth and world indoor gold medallist Fabrice Lapierre should be able to successfully negotiate the preliminary round of the men's long jump.
Madeline Heiner, Genevieve LaCaze and Victoria Mitchell run in the heats of the 3000m steeplechase and Anneliese Rubie is the lone Australian in the first round of the women's 400m.
In other Australian events, National champion Jeff Riseley (Vic) was forced to withdraw from his semi-final of the men’s 800m at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing (CHN).
Battling acute soreness to his plantar facia, the two-time Olympian has decided to focus solely on his preparation for Rio 2016 and not risk a more serious injury that would impede his preparation for the grandest of all athletics stages next year.
“This isn’t the result that I wanted but it’s the best decision to ensure my preparation for Rio. I worked hard with the Athletics Australia medical team and my coach to give myself the best possible chance for a start in the semi-final, but during my warm up I could not do what I needed to do to run well. I don’t want to compete at a level any less than what I know I am capable of. It’s disappointing, but in my best interest long term,” Riseley said.
“I came here in amazing shape and think I showed that in the heat. The plan now is to recover and make sure that I take a similar level of preparation to the Olympic Games. I know I am able to run well against the best at a major championship and plan on doing that through more than the first round next year.”
AAP and ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA
