Thomas Barr and Rob Heffernan lead charge for IAAF World Championships

For many months now, Irish athletes have been striking the same chord when talking about the IAAF World Championships, which get under way in London tomorrow evening.

“The closest we’ll get to a home championships,” is what they keep saying, and it’s true, a line that highlights in one breath what a rare and precious opportunity lies ahead.

The squad lost a key figure yesterday with the withdrawal of Paul Pollock, whose true marathon potential will remain untapped for another season, the Belfast man struck down with two stress fractures in his foot.