Home hero Heffernan clocks new Irish record

Now firmly settled in its new home at the CIT track in Bishopstown, the Cork City Sports International meet captured the partisan crowd’s attention last night as Robert Heffernan clocked a new national record in the 3,000m race walk.

Heffernan put on a show of race walking that earmarked him for as a genuine medal contender for the World Championships in Moscow in August.

“There’s nothing quite like performing in front of your home crowd,” said Heffernan despite the race only being 3,000m in distance — some way short of the 50km he will walk in a bid to get a medal in Moscow.