Loughnane’s Korea progression

OLIVE LOUGHNANE expressed satisfaction with preparations for the World Championships in South Korea after covering the 3,000m walk in 12:52.85 — 15 seconds faster than last year.

The featured mixed walk had to start without hamstring victim Robert Heffernan, who watched Spain’s Francisco ‘Paco’ Javier Fernandez claim victory in 11:14.63 from Hatem Ghoula (Tunisia), 11:26.34 and Pierre De Villiers (South Africa), 11:33.63.

Irish 50k specialist Colin Griffin (Ballinamore) came through to overtake long-time leader Jakub Jelonek (Poland) for fourth place in 11:38.27.

But most of the attention was focused on world silver medallist Loughnane, who was coming off another silver medal performance in the Grand Prix in Dublin a week earlier and she did not disappoint.

“It was about 15 seconds quicker than this time last year,” she said. “I’m at an intermediate point in training. I’m starting the build-up again this week — I have eight weeks to the world’s from Wednesday — so I’m in good shape.

“The last five weeks or so were just transition so I’m just knocking out the training at the moment.”

Last weekend’s Grand Prix race in Dublin provided her with an opportunity to measure her progress over 20k.

“It was fine. I had a bit of a tummy bug. I hadn’t noticed it until I raced but racing will highlight all those things.

“But training is going well. The European Cup — apart from the disqualification — showed I can be competitive and that’s where I’m at. The world record holder won it and I was chasing her down and I just got a bit carried away.

I did not like the look of silver and I was thinking I could change the colour.

“I’m looking forward to Daegu and I will just race the nationals between now and then.

“I’m going to Grenada. My coach is there and it is low to high altitude which suits my physiology.

“Then on August 19 I’ll go to Korea. I’ll base myself in Seoul for eight or nine days before I’ll go to the village.”

Maeve Curley got the perfect boost for the European junior championships when she finished second in 13:48.86 which bettered her previous best by almost 13 seconds.

Kelly Proper (Ferrybank) highlighted her versatility when she finished second in the women’s 100m in 11.72 secs. The race was won by the 2005 world long jump champion Tianna Madison of the USA in 11.60 secs, with Britain’s Hayley Jones third in 11.85 secs.

Madison and Proper crossed paths in the long jump but both finished behind Nina Kolaric (Slovenia), who won with a jump of 6.52m from Amy Woodman (Great Britain) 6.40m. Madison was third with 6.36m and Proper fourth (6.23m) in an event affected by wind.

The women’s 1500m provided an exciting finish as Hanna England (Great Britain) came storming through to snatch victory in 4:10.70 just as the German twins, Elina and Diana Sujew, appeared to have the race between them.

Ireland’s Mary Cullen (North Sligo) took the lead 600m out but faded in the finishing straight to finish seventh in 4:15.96 with Deirdre Byrne eighth in 4:16.27. Marian Heffernan (Togher AC) finished fourth in the women’s 400m in 53.64. The race was won by Shana Cox (Great Britain) in 51.43.