China won their first gold medal of their home World Athletics Championships by sweeping a 1-2 finish in the women’s 20k walk in Beijing.

OLIVE LOUGHNANE will put her preparation to the test when she lines-up for the women’s 20k walk tomorrow morning.

ROBERT HEFFERNAN became the 10th Irish athlete to qualify for the Athens Olympics when finishing 6th in the 20km Walk at the IAAF Grand Prix Challenge in Mexico yesterday.