PENNY Smith says the 2016 Olympic Games might come around too soon for her, but she is putting forward a case to be considered for the Australian team.
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The Bookaar shooter again thrust her name in front of selectors’ eyes at the Oceania Shooting Federation Continental Championships on Saturday, winning the grand prix women’s trap with a sharp-shooting score of 68.
After being named on the Australia B team for the competition, Smith said she was keen to prove herself.
“Because I wasn’t on the A team, I could only shoot in the grand prix, but I was fortunate enough to have a win,” she said.
“I felt the pressure a fair bit, though, because I definitely wanted to do well.
“My coach Greg (Chan) asked me after how I felt and I said it was shocking – the pressure felt second to none.
“I just really wanted to prove myself and just get a good score and keep tapping on the door of the shooters that are above me.”
Smith’s chances of coming into consideration for the Rio de Janeiro Games hinge on her performances at the national championships in January and Australia Cup 2 in March.
“I have to shoot a score of 71 out of 75 and also win the competition to have a chance,” she said.
“At the end of the day, if it happens, it happens, if it doesn’t, that’s okay.
“You’ve just got to do the best you can.
“Probably Rio is a bit soon for me, but my form has been pretty good up to now in the last couple of months.”
Smith and her Australia B teammates Teegan McCloy and Stephanie Pile took bragging rights at the championships, edging out the Australia A team.
Their combined score of 194 sent them to the top of the team rankings, ahead of Australia A, which scored 190, and New Zealand, which finished with 166.
“We were fortunate enough to beat the A team for the team medal – considering we were the underdogs, it was really great to win,” Smith said.
Smith said she entered the Oceania event not with any vision of individual or team glory, but of shooting a good score.
She finished with rounds of 22, 22 and 24 in a strong performance.
Only one athlete in the continental championships trap women – which the Australia A team competed in – bettered her score, with Australian Laetisha Scanlan shooting a perfect round of 25 on her way to an overall qualification score of 70 and eventual gold medal.
