Samuels is certain of going the distance

FRESH off what was the best year of her career, Dani Samuels has again made a flying start in 2015.

Which is just as well, because the woman who shapes as the biggest obstacle between the Australian and a potential second discus world title – powerhouse Croatian Sandra Perkovic – has hit the ground running too.

With the outdoor season only just getting started in the northern hemisphere, the reigning world and Olympic champion has already shot to the top of the rankings with a huge throw of 70.08m.

Samuels, now based on the Gold Coast, has scarcely been less impressive, bettering the 64m mark in each of her three meets to date – topped by 66.21m earlier this month in Sydney.

“(Perkovic) also threw 70 metres early last year and then did 71.08 later on which was the biggest throw in the world since 1992, so she’s obviously in great shape,” said Samuels.

“But other people’s performances don’t really motivate me.

“I tend to be motivated by the want to reach my potential and achieve my goals.

“Seventy metres is always there to motivate me and that’s my ultimate goal, as well as winning a medal at the worlds in Beijing and the Rio Olympics next year.”

Samuels is a virtual lock-in to claim a 10th national title this weekend, which would better the longstanding record of Gael Martin.

But the national titles are more a means to an end for Samuels. After becoming the youngest discus world champ in 2009 at the tender age of 21, Samuels’ career flatlined for four years before she turned it around in a big way last year.

“You are always aiming to make improvements and, in those years where I didn’t perform as well as I wanted to at the major championships, it didn’t mean I wasn’t doing the work,” she said. “Improvements come at different times.

“We made a lot of good changes after the 2013 world championships in order to throw big last year and win the Commonwealth Games.”