Robert Heffernan will face a stiff challenge to win the European 50km race walk title on the streets of Zurich this morning but his wife and coach, Marian, believes he’s in as good a shape as ever.

Kelly Proper and Christine McMahon bowed out in their respective semi-finals at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich – but Proper still scored a lifetime best in exiting the 200m.

Kelly Proper breezed into the semi-finals of the women’s 200m at the European Athletics Championships in Zurich this morning, taking an automatic qualifying spot by coming fourth in her first-round heat.