Robert Heffernan finished a fighting fifth in the men’s 50km race walk in 3:44:17 in a brave bid to defend his world title at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, while Ireland’s men’s 4x400m relay team set a national record.

‘I feel good, my training’s gone well, I’m in a good place mentally and physically’

World champion Robert Heffernan returns to competitive action at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Dudince today.