Sixth place ensures heroic Heffernan place at Olympics

ROBERT HEFFERNAN became the 10th Irish athlete to qualify for the Athens Olympics when finishing 6th in the 20km Walk at the IAAF Grand Prix Challenge in Mexico yesterday.

The Corkman, who missed most of the 2003 season through injury, finished in 1.22.20, behind world record holder Jefferson Perez of Ecuador, who won in 1.19.40. Meanwhile, Gillian O’Sullivan got her Olympic year off to a poor start by placing fourth in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Tijuana over the weekend, where Italy’s Elisa Riguado bettered her previous best time for 20k by more than a minute.

Riguado, 23, won in 1:28:50 from Spain’s Olympic bronze medallist Maria Vasco (1:29:06) and Portugal’s Susana Feitor (1:29:12). O’Sullivan finished fourth in 1:29.54, with team-mate Olive Loughnane finishing fifth in 1:30:46.

Gillian O’Sullivan won this race last year before going on to claim the silver medal at the world championships in Paris and, up to half way, it appeared as she was on her way to a successful defence of the title.

The Irish pair were in a leading group of three that also included Portugal’s Susana Feitor when they went through half way in 44:46.

At 15k, the leaders had a 30-second advantage on the remainder of the field but, one kilometre later, O’Sullivan, began to lose touch.

The Irish walkers will remain on in Mexico for altitude training and the many walkers will reassemble in Rio Mayor in Portugal on April 5.

Meanwhile, Alistair Cragg’s all-conquering indoor season was further recognised at the weekend when he was named indoor male athlete of the year by the United States Track Coaches Association.

Cragg was the highest-finishing Irishman in Brussels on Saturday, placing 16th in the 4km short-course senior men’s race at the IAAF world cross country championships.

His performances under cover in Fayetteville, Arkansas were recognised by the USTCA as he defends the 3000 metres and 5000m titles at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships.