Sunday, November 8, 2009 Previous editions
Saturday, July 04, 2009
ROBERT HEFFERNAN predicts a thriller today when he lines up alongside Mexico’s Eder Sánchez in a 3,000m walk he hopes will give Cork City Sports fans a taste of what world class race walking is all about.
"Fans back home don’t often get the opportunity to see us, but they should see us at our best at The Mardyke," the Togher athlete said.
"Eder Sánchez is quick — he has set a world record for 5,000m at 18:40 already this year — and he is one of the few walkers who can outkick Jefferson Perez and ‘Pako’ Hernandez."
Heffernan is also very fast over the shorter distances. He holds every national record, including the 3,000m and he was struggling with injury when he did 38:47 for 10k at the Munster championships at the CIT Track in Bishopstown early in the year. That time is still among the top five in the world for 2009.
"I’m pretty quick as well," Heffernan admitted. "The opportunities to compete at home, before family and friends, are very rare so when they arise I enjoy them.
"I also enjoy the intimacy of the track — there is that excitement about having people all around giving you continuous encouragement. It drives you on."
It was this encouragement that drove him to a succession of national records over the shorter distances both indoors in Belfast and outdoors in Morton Stadium. He has yet to produce a record for the home fans in Cork but he may well do that today.
"My Irish record is 11:27 and I would like to think I can beat that," he said. "I have been doing temp walks under 3:50 per kilometre but I will need 3:45. Hopefully, the home support will help me along the way."
However, he will have a big battle on his hands today with Sánchez. The Mexican was among the favourites for the 20k walk at the Beijing Olympics last year and while he was involved in the early skirmishes he ended up in 15th place. Heffernan, sixth in the world championships in 2007 when Sánchez was fourth, was eighth in that memorable race.
Since then, Heffernan damaged his ankle while training and has been struggling with the problem.
"After the European Cup in Metz I got an injection into the ankle and that appears to have done some good," he said. "I have been talking to Dr Joe Conway in Dublin. We’ll see how the next month goes in Spain and if it is not healed he can inject nutrients into the joint to replenish it. After Cork I will go to the training camp in Guadix on Monday and then come back for the national championships. Nationals will be my only other race before the world championships in Berlin," he said. "After the nationals I will go to Poland to finish my training and I will go directly from there to Berlin.
"My whole year has been geared towards the world championships. I have not done as much travelling this year and I have not had as many races. In other years I would compete in most of the grand prix races and that would mean a lot more travelling."
Cork City Sports timetable
2pm: 800m Junior Women.
2:05pm: 800m Women (IMC).
2:15pm: 400m Women.
2:25pm: 400m Men.
2:35pm: 100m Women Race 1&2.
2:45pm: 100m Men Race 1&2.
3pm: 800m Men (IMC).
3:15pm: 1500m Men.
3:25pm: 1500m Women.
3:35pm: 3000m Walk.
3:50pm: 100m Hurdles Women.
4:05pm: 200m Men.
4:15pm: 3000m Men.
4:25pm: 1500m Junior Men.
4:35pm: 4 x 100m Relay Women.
4:45pm: 4 x 100m Relay Men.
4:55pm: 4 x 400m Relay Women.
5:05pm: 4 x 400m Relay Men.
Field Events
2pm: High Jump Women.
2:15pm: Long Jump Men.
3:25pm: High Jump Men.
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