The main focus of international competition this weekend moves onto our racewalkers who are competing in the 23rd IAAF Race Walking Cup in Cheboksary, Russia, on May 10th and 11th. This is an excellent opportunity for the athletes to gain some top class competition against the very best walkers in the world. The vast majority of the Beijing contenders will be present and this will give a very good indication as to how the Irish walkers have progressed over the winter and give them an indication of how their training is going. Olive Loughnane is our only competitor in the women's 20K and she is currently in excellent form. She finished 6th in a Grand Prix race recently in Portugal where she posted her second fastest time ever. It was in Cheboksary in 2003 that she actually set her PB so she will be hoping to have a similar reult again. Robert Heffernan and Jamie Costin are both entered in the men's 20K. Robert has had some slight disruptions to training but the overall trend is very encouraging. He had a very strong 20K in Mexico recently and is clearly benefitting from training with Francisco Fernandez who will be one of the favourites to take the individual title. Jamie will use this race as part of his continuing preparation for the gruelling 50K challenge that he will undertake in Beijing. Colin Griffin is our lone entrant vin the men's 50K. Colin is another who has been training well recently despite a few niggling injuries. He spends most of his time in Italy under the guidance of Italian guru Sandro Damilano and enjoys training with members of the Italian team. Paul Fitzpatrick from Shercock AC will compete in the junior men's 10K. He raced very well in the European Cup last year and will have one eye on the World Junior qualification standard in this race. The junior women will have a team of Laura Reynolds, Mohill AC and Donna Carolan of Sli Cualainn. Laura will also be hoping to get inside the World Junior standard while Donna will gain valuable experience in what is her first venture into serious international competition.
