Mixed luck for Irish walking trio

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.

Costin, whose major championship appearances in the past have always been over 50k, stepped down to 20k ahead of the showpiece event in Barcelona and returned a time of 84:53 to secure his place in the line-up.

However, there was a major upset for the world silver medallist, Loughnane, disqualified 16k into the 20k race.