Six months ago, Matt Denny was sliding across a drenched throwing circle in Tokyo, part of one of the most chaotic finals in World Championships history.
At the World Athletics Championships, torrential rain turned the discus ring into a dangerous spectacle. Athletes swapped shoes, taped feet, even threw in socks. Half the attempts were fouls. Several competitors fell heavily. The final was delayed two hours and eventually resumed after every other event — even after the closing ceremony.
Denny slipped mid-throw as the heavens opened. He finished fourth.
Agonising. Emotional. Unsatisfied.
On Saturday night in Hobart, there were no towels soaking up water, no controversy, no global chaos. Just a hilltop track, cool Tasmanian air and a clean circle. The discus opened the Hobart Track Classic, an hour prior to the next event. Interclub vibes.
At the Domain Athletics Centre, Denny launched a world-leading 68.74m. It was a Commonwealth Games qualifier, meet record and his second-farthest throw ever on Australian soil.
“It felt really tidy and well put together,” he said. “I thought there was a bit more on the table there as well but still a great result.”
Tokyo was turmoil. Hobart was control.
“It was great to have a crack, have some fun and hopefully ramp it up for the rest of the season.”
Hollingsworth Expands Her Range
If Denny set the tone, Claudia Hollingsworth delivered the performance of the night on the track.
The 20-year-old added the Australian 3000m title to her national 800m and Mile crowns, clocking 8:37.42 to move to fifth on the Australian all-time list. She ran patiently behind early leader Rose Davies before unleashing a decisive final lap to defeat the in-form Abbey Caldwell (8:39.06, PB) and national record holder Georgia Griffith (8:40.71).
The range continues to grow.
“I came into this race just to get a bit of experience, so to come away with the win is really exciting,” Hollingsworth said.
“It’s only the start of the year for me so to be getting these kinds of times is such a positive for me.”
In the men’s 3000m, Callum Davies claimed a third national title in 7:48.21, finishing ahead of Brett Robinson (7:49.09) and Adam Goddard (7:49.68).
Bol Rehearses, Hancock-Cameron Delivers
The men’s 800m wasn’t just another win for Peter Bol: it was calculated rehearsal.
With the World Indoor Championships ahead, Bol deliberately positioned himself at the back of the field, boxed in and running in traffic. He absorbed the physicality before striking late to win in 1:47.07, pulling away from Bob Abdelrahim (1:48.12) in the home straight.
It was tactical. Purposeful. Exactly what he needed.
In the women’s 800m, Jaylah Hancock-Cameron ran 2:02.22 from the front after the pacemaker dropped out before reaching 100m, finishing ahead of a personal best from junior Ivy Boothroyd (2:03.15).
Kennedy Returns, Craig Kicks
Sub-10 sprinter Lachlan Kennedy made a statement in his return to racing, winning the 200m in a meet record 20.43 (+0.6). Training partner Calab Law followed in 20.70.
“I’m definitely feeling tired, it’s been a while,” Kennedy said.
“It was a good way to blow the cobwebs out, and I think not bad at all for my first race back.”
Jacob Despard took out the 100m in front of his home crowd in 10.46s (-0.4).
The women’s sprints brought upsets. In the 100m (+0.7), Mia Gross produced an upset win in 11.64 , while pre-race favourite Bree Rizzo looked out of sorts, finishing sixth in 11.88. Gross returned in the 200m (+0.5) but had to settle for third in 23.77s behind Monique Hanlon and a fast-finishing junior Amaya Mearns, who were split by the photo finish after both running 23.65.
The men’s 1500m unfolded tactically, with a controlled early tempo before Peyton Craig made his move. Off a slow pace, Craig unleashed a sharp final lap to win in 3:44.57, underlining his strength in a sit-and-kick scenario.
Over the Bar and Into the Sand
Eighteen-year-old Izobelle Louison-Roe cleared 1.93m to win the high jump, raising the bar to 1.97m in pursuit of the Australian Under 20 record. It wasn’t to be. [Competing in Canberra, Nicola Olyslagers cleared a tidy 1.96m with a clean sheet until 1.99m].
World Under 20 champion Delta Amidzovski soared 6.62m to shatter the meet record in the long jump and set a new personal best. The 20-year-old edges closer to the Commonwealth Games qualifying mark of 6.70m.
In the triple jump, Shemiah James won with 16.16m, adding further quality to the field events.
Strength in the Throws
The men’s shot put was won by Aidan Harvey with 18.43m, while Emma Berg took the women’s title with 16.08m.
The men’s javelin went to Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who launched 80.12m to claim victory.
In the women’s hammer, New Zealand’s Lauren Bruce threw 69.12m for the win.
Hurdles and Grit
The one-lap action came via the 400m hurdles.
Matthew Hunt claimed the men’s title in 50.64, running down Connor Fry (51.29), who made a strong lane-eight charge.
In the women’s race, Marli Wilkinson took victory in 56.85 ahead of Olympic semi-finalist Alanah Yukich (57.20).
A Hilltop Reset
Hobart does not pretend to be Tokyo.
There were no torrential downpours, no two-hour delays, no slippery circles. Just a clean competition, sharp racing and athletes quietly laying foundations for bigger stages ahead.
For Matt Denny, it was the perfect place to begin again.
From rain-soaked controversy in Tokyo to controlled dominance on a Tasmanian hill.
Sometimes the most important throw of the year isn’t about medals.
It’s about momentum.
Photo Gallery
Free downloads using the code you receive when you subscribe to our newsletter.
