ROBERT HEFFERNAN got his preparations for London 2012 back on track at the IAAF Racewalking Challenge Final in La Coruna on Saturday, breaking his own national record for the 10k walk when finishing sixth behind the world and Olympic champion, Valeriy Borchin, in 39:19.

JAMIE COSTIN achieved the qualifying standard for the European championships but there was disappointment for Robert Heffernan and Olive Loughnane who were both disqualified at the Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni IAAF Race Walking Challenge on Saturday.

OLIVE LOUGHNANE, Robert Heffernan and Jamie Costin will have Barcelona on their minds when they line up for their respective events at the Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni near Milan, the Italian leg of the IAAF Race Walking Challenge today.

Ireland's Olive Loughnane has failed to complete the women’s 20km walk in Athens.

MEDALS are not awarded for effort in the tough world of race walking but if they were then Gillian O’Sullivan would surely have strode away with gold after yesterday’s World Cup event in Naumburg.