Heffernan gold chances boosted as rival pulls out

Robert Heffernan’s medal chances have been significantly enhanced with the withdrawal of Russian Olympic champion Sergey Kirdyapkin for this morning’s 50km race walk at the World Championships in Moscow and double 50km Olympian Colin Griffin believes the Corkman is on course for a treasured medal.

“He’s in with a good shout,” said Griffin, who competed in the in London last summer. “His training has been going well and he’s in a good frame of mind.”

Heffernan, who was fourth in London last year, will be well into his walking for a medal when these column inches are being read, with a 5:30am start time, but the hunt for medals will really only get under way at the 30km mark.