WORLD CHAMPION ROB Heffernan will be chasing another gold medal today as the 50km walk gets under way at 08.10 at the European Championships.
Having been awarded a belated bronze medal for his 2010 effort over 20km in Barcelona, Heffernan will be hoping to claim his first European gold medal.
It won’t come easy, Heffernan faces a gruelling three and a half hours of walking and fierce competition which will include Donegal’s Brendan Boyce. However, the Corkman has made this race his main focus in 2014, kicking himself back into big-race training as early as last November.
On the track, Ciaran O’Lionaird, John Travers and Paul Robinson will have their 1,500 metre heats from 10.50. And come 18.55 Ireland’s Mark English will take to the start line of the 800 metres hoping to deliver on his encouraging form having cruised through his heat and finished fourth in his semi-final.
Yesterday, Waterford’s Kelly Proper was fast enough to qualify for the 200 metre semi-finals and once there she recorded a new personal best of 23.15 seconds.
That time was not enough to put her through to the final, though it would have seen her claim third and an automatic qualification spot in the day’s third semi.
Christine McMahon was unable to qualify from her 400m hurdle semi-final after running a time of 57.31. In the 20km walk, Laura Reynolds was forced to withdraw midway through due to injury.
So, do you think Ireland will win any medals today?
He’ll walk it!
Not looking good