Happy Heffernan puts down a marker for Beijing

ROBERT HEFFERNAN achieved another major milestone on Saturday when he knocked almost a minute off his national record.

The Cork athlete finished 9th in the 20k at the 23rd IAAF World Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, in 79 mins 22 seconds to become the first Irishman to break the 80 minute barrier.

And it was also a remarkable weekend too for Olive Loughnane, who dipped under 90 minutes for the first time with a sensational 1:29:17 for sixth place in a highly competitive women’s 20k — a performance that reinforces her Olympic dream.