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.

Phil Healy is an athlete in a hurry.

Fionnuala Britton sprinted to the Women’s 5,000 metre title at today’s Glo Health Senior track and field championships in Santry stadium.

Athletics: Sarah Lavin was named female athlete of the meet at the Leevale T&F promotion at the Cork IT yesterday in unusual circumstances.

Olympic decathlon champion Ashton Eaton broke the 60 meter stadium record at tonight’s Athlone IT Grand Prix.

Marcus Lawler and Kelly Proper saved the best until last at the Woodie’s DIY National Senior Indoor Championships in Athlone when they powered around their respective 200m races in record-breaking fashion while Amy Foster snaffled a world indoor qualifying time in the 60m, pipping Phil Healy in the process.

Amy Foster and Kelly Proper were the stand out performers at today’s Woodies DIY National Indoor Championships in Athlone IT.

Kelly Proper joined Rob Heffernan as Ireland's most decorated indoor champion at today’s Woodies DIY national indoor championships.

Cork’s Brian Murphy showed true grit in the men’s 400m to win his third national title in a row in 47.14, as Kelly Proper was laden with gold and four national titles in monsoon conditions at the 141st Woodie’s DIY National Track and Field Championships in Morton Stadium over the weekend.

Kelly Proper took athlete of the championships after taking four gold medals at the Woodies DIY national track and field championships.

Kelly Proper was the star of the Woodies DIY national track and field championships taking three gold medals in Santry Stadium.

An impressive double by 18-year-old Clonmel athlete Sean Tobin was the highlight of the 13th annual Leevale T&F meeting which took place at the Cork IT track in dry but windy conditions on Saturday.

Robert Heffernan put on a masterclass of race walking to win his 15th national title but felt the atmosphere ‘dead’ on day one of the Woodie’s DIY National Indoor Championships in Athlone on Saturday.

The Woodie’s DIY AAI Games in the new Athlone IT indoor arena produced a long list of new personal bests and one new record.

Strong wind at Santry Stadium played a telling factor on Day One of the 2012 Woodies DIY National Track and Field Championships today.

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.

National champion and record holder Paul Hession claimed a brace of second place finishes at today’s 60th running of the Cork City Sports meeting.

World silver medallist Olive Loughnane was the first Irish winner at today’s Cork City Sports meeting in Bishopstown.

Tori Pena made a winning debut at the Woodie's DIY National Senior Track & Field Championships today, breaking the women's pole vault record by clearing 4.15 metres.

CLAIRE BRADY (Celbridge) will be back in action on Irish soil on Sunday when she lines up for the 100m at the Woodies DIY AAI Games, which return to Castleisland after a 10-year absence. The Games will include senior relays as well as Paralympic events and a Masters 3km team event.

DERVAL O’ROURKE, Leevale AC, produced a solid performance to win the 60m hurdles at the UK Indoor Championships in Sheffield yesterday.

KELLY PROPER of Ferrybank AC, pictured, booked her place at the IAAF World Indoor championships after setting another national long jump record at the Vienna Indoor Gala on Saturday.

Paul Hession, the big draw on the second and final day of the Woodie's DIY Senior Track and Field Championships in Santry, was forced to withdraw from the 100 metres today due to illness.

David Gillick warmed up for the forthcoming World Championships by claiming the 200 metres title at the Woodie's DIY National Athletics Championships at Morton Stadium this afternoon.

PAUL HESSION may have lost his winning streak but he maintained his form in Lucerne last night where he finished fifth in the 200m in 20.75 secs.

Ireland's Kelly Proper has finished seventh in the long jump final.

RISING star Kelly Proper from Waterford lit up the Oval Lingotto arena in Turin yesterday with an inspiring performance during an incredibly successful morning for the Irish.

Ireland’s top athletes will begin their quest for medals early tomorrow morning when the European Indoor Track and Field Championships begin at the Oval Lingotto in Turin, Italy.

“DON’T write Derval O’Rourke off,” was the clear message from world renowned sports injury therapist, Gerard Hartmann, as the former world indoor hurdles champion packed her bags for the Olympic Games in Beijing.

FOR the second year in a row Kelly Proper (Ferrybank) set a new national long jump record at the Woodies DIY Indoor Championships of Ireland at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast where she retained her title with a best jump of 6.28 metres.

KILKENNY’S Eileen O’Keeffe was the big winner at Saturday night’s inaugural Athletics Ireland National Athletics awards in Dublin.

Cracking made a quick breakaway to steal the dash for the EBF Maiden Stakes at a well-attended Brighton.

KERRY sprinter Jer O’Donoghue got the new year off to a stylish start at the Nenagh Arena yesterday when he retained his Munster AAI 60m title in 6.93 secs.

ATHLETES from all 32 counties will converge on the Tullamore Harriers Track for the Kit Kat Irish Schools championships today.

THE future stars of Irish athletics produced impressive displays at the Kit Kat Munster Schools track and field championships in CIT on Saturday.