World Champion Rob Heffernan (Togher AC) made a welcome return to competitive action when he finished fourth at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge Permit Meeting in Dudinska on Saturday, 21st of March.
Heffernan was joined on the line by team mate Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) with both athletes targeting the World Championships Qualifying Time (WCQT) of 3hr55minutes. Matej Toth of the Slovak Republic dominated proceedings as he won the race in a time of 3:34:38; the time for Toth was a new world lead and a national record.Both Irish athletes stuck to their tasks as Heffernan crossed the line in fourth place in a time of 3:48.44 with Boyce right behind him in a fifth in a new personal best of 3:48.55.
2015 World Championships
The times were comfortable inside the WCQT required for the World Championships in Beijing which are scheduled to take place from the 22nd – 30th of August.