Irish racewalkers in action in Lugano, Switzerland...Sun 17th Mar 2013

A number of Irish athletes were in action on Sunday in the 20 km race at the IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Lugano, Switzerland.

In a field where 81 competitors finished, all of the Irish athletes finished in the top half with Rob Heffernan finishing 10th. Bredan Boyce who is based in Cork finished 35th while Cian McManamon from Co.Mayo finished 37th.

Lugano Trophy 2013 - (1) 20km maschile / Men

 posto nome                            anno naz squadra                                 tempo   ritardo    pett     media
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    1. Wang Zhen                       1991 CHN PR CHINA                              1:19.08     -----   (101)      3.57
    2. Dmytrenko Ruslan                1986 UKR UKRAINE                               1:20.38      1.30   (119)      4.01
    3. Campion Kévin                   1988 FRA AFA FEYZIN-VENISSIEUX                 1:21.02      1.54   (183)      4.03
    4. Kovalenko Nazar                 1987 UKR UKRAINE                               1:21.10      2.02   (118)      4.03
    5. Palma Olivares Isaac Antonio    1990 MEX MEXICO                                1:21.13      2.05   (113)      4.03
    6. Nowak Lukasz                    1988 POL POLSKA                                1:21.17      2.09   (125)      4.03
    7. Xu Faguang                      1987 CHN PR CHINA                              1:21.35      2.27   (103)      4.04
    8. Gomez Cruz Pedro Daniel         1990 MEX MEXICO                                1:21.38      2.30   (114)      4.04
    9. Losev Ivan                      1986 UKR UKRAINE                               1:21.55      2.47   (120)      4.05
   10. Heffernan Robert                1978 IRL IRELAND                               1:21.59      2.51   (115)      4.05
   35. Boyce Brendan                   1986 IRL LETTERKENNY                           1:27.20      8.12   (116)      4.22
   37. McManamon Cian                  1991 IRL IRELAND                               1:27.35      8.27   (117)      4.22

Results format....Finishing time...Time behind winner...Race Number...Avg time per km

Irish Racewalking results from last weekend...Sun 18th Mar 2012

Some of the the top Irish race walkers took part in the Lugano Trophy in Switzerland last weekend in some wet conditions.

In the Womens Under 20 race over 10kms, Kate Veale of West Waterford AC finished in 1st place in a time of 47:01, almost three minutes ahead of her nearest rival. In 4th place, Emma Prenderville of Farranfore Maine Valley AC in Kerry finished in 51:32. Emma had finished in 3rd place in 2011 with 50:50.

In the mens 20k race, Rob Heffernan of Togher AC finished in a time of 1:20:39. In previous years, Rob finished in 1:20:54 in 2011 and 1:20:44 in 2010 so he's in a good shape at the moment as he prepares for the Olympics in London.

In the womens 20k race, Olive Loughnane of Athenry AC finished in 10th place with 1:32:26.

In the Mens Under 20 race over 10kms, James Treanor of Shercock AC finished in 5th place with 45:08.

The full results can be seen HERE

The next major race walking competition is on Saturday, the 25th of March in Dudince, Slovakia. In it, Jamie Costin (West Waterford AC) and Colin Griffin (Ballinamore AC) will be hoping for a qualification time of sub 3:59:00 for 50 kms for the London Olympics. Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) will also be taking part but has already qualified for London having recorded a personal best of 3.57.58 last September

Postscript......Results from the 50km race walkers Jamie Costin and Colin Griffin in Dudince, Slovakia. Both athletes were trying for the Olympic 'A' standard time of 3:59. Jamie Costin dropped out at 32 kms and Colin Griffin was disqualified 10km later after a third warning flag. Brendan Boyce achieved the 'A' standard for the second time in six months by taking six seconds off his personal best time of 3:57:58.