Robert Heffernan’s medal chances have been significantly enhanced with the withdrawal of Russian Olympic champion Sergey Kirdyapkin for this morning’s 50km race walk at the World Championships in Moscow and double 50km Olympian Colin Griffin believes the Corkman is on course for a treasured medal.

Mark English and Paul Robinson start a new era for Irish middle-distance running this morning in the heats of the 800m on the opening day of the World Track and Field Championships in Moscow.