Loughnane coasts to win in Cork

World silver medallist Olive Loughnane was the first Irish winner at today’s Cork City Sports meeting in Bishopstown.

The Cork-born walker, who competes internationally at 20 kilometres, was in full control of the 3km race in sunny conditions at the Cork IT Athletics Stadium.

Loughnane covered the distance in 12 minutes, 52.85 seconds, beating her Irish compatriot Maeve Curley (13:48.86) who was the only other starter.

Ireland’s top sprinter Paul Hession, who is doubling up in Cork, narrowly missed out on a 100 metres victory.

Just one-hundredth of a second separated Hession and Luke Fagan in the 100m, the Briton getting the verdict in a time of 10.56 seconds.

Hession hit the line in 10.57, with Trinidad & Tobago’s Rondel Sorrillo finishing third in 10.80. The wind stood at -1.3.

In the women’s 100m, versatile Waterford athlete Kelly Proper clocked 11.72 seconds when finishing second to America’s Tianna Madison (11.60) in the day’s first track event.

Former World champion Madison and Proper will also lock horns in their main event of the long jump.