Heffernan out of World Cup due to knee injury

ROBERT HEFFERNAN will miss the 20th IAAF World Cup for racewalking in Turin in two weeks time on account of injury. The Togher athlete is nursing a knee injury.

According to one source, it would take a miracle for Heffernan to be fit in time to compete as he has been unable to train in recent weeks. It comes as a huge disappointment after his spectacular performance at the European championships in Munich where he finished eighth. He was 14th in the world championships in Edmonton last year.

Gillian O'Sullivan, whose world record for 5,000m was ratified recently, will be one of the medal favourites when she lines up for the women's 20k. She finished fourth in the European championships when she failed to hold off the flying finish of Italian Erica Alfridi in the contest for the bronze medal.