OLIVE LOUGHNANE expressed satisfaction with preparations for the World Championships in South Korea after covering the 3,000m walk in 12:52.85 — 15 seconds faster than last year.

Francisco ‘Paco’ Javier Fernandez, a multi-medallist at Olympic, World and European level, led home the field in the 3km walk at today's Cork City Sports meeting.

ROBERT HEFFERNAN ended up ninth in the IAAF Racewalking Challenge — the Grand Prix of Race walking — following what has been a sensational year for the Cork athlete.

ROBERT HEFFERNAN produced a career best performance to finish sixth in a sensational 20k walk at the world championships in Osaka yesterday.

Ireland's Robert Heffernan battled his way to a sixth place finish in the 20 kilometre race walk final in Osaka earlier this morning to continue the feel-good vibe in the Irish camp at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Championship.