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.

“It is always disappointing to be disqualified,” she said. “But there are also positives to be taken out of it. I was going well and I was on for a good time. It was just one of those things. I was in third place fighting for second.

“I am now in much the same situation as I was this time last year – one did not finish and one disqualification – and, like last year, I know there are some things that need to be fixed – problems to be ironed out.

“And I know how to do that.”

She now heads for Krakow in a fortnight where she will compete over 10k. “I did 10k in the Challenge after Berlin last year and that was a national record.”

Vera Santos became the first Portuguese woman to win the Coppa Città di Sesto San Giovanni, clocking 88:29.

She beat Melanie Seeger (Germany) by 51 seconds with Johanna Jackson (Great Britain) third in 92:05.

Heffernan was in fourth place when he was disqualified after 11k. This was his second race of the season having set a new national record on his debut over 50k.

“He was not feeling great, his legs felt heavy and that was due to the close proximity of his first 50k race,” Chair of High Performance, Ray Flynn, said.

Olympic 50k champion, Alex Schwazer, provided the home fans with the perfect result when he won in 80:29, beating 2007 Sesto winner, Erik Tysse (Norway), 81:29, and France’s European 50k champion, Yohan Diniz.

Meanwhile George Waugh (Rising Sun) won the marathon in 2:37:17 when the Great Limerick Run brought over 6,000 competitors onto the streets of the city for an unique programme comprised of a marathon, half marathon and a 10k road race. The Bandon man, fresh from his Great Island win in Cobh, won from Dermot Kearns (Limerick), 2:42:00, and Peter Mooney (Clonard) 2:43:32.

The women’s marathon was won by Liz Hussey (Limerick) in 3:03:05 from Cork’, Mary Sweeney (St. Finbarr’s), 3:09:23, and Georgina Quain, 3:23:07.

Cian Murphy won the men’s 10k in 30:28 from Paul Duffy, 31:21, and Tervor Sweeney, 31:47 while the women’s title went to Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane) in 33:21 with Niamh O’Sullivan (An Riocht) second in 33:52 and Eimer Martin third in 35:47.

Labeta Debela (Ethiopia) won the men’s half marathon in 70:54 while the women’s title went to Angela McCann in 83:24.