Yesterday saw the first two Irish men start and unfortunately - despite impressive performances - end their participation in the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Canada.
Daniel Caulfield took fourth place in Heat 2 of the Men’s 800m after running the two laps in 1:47.23. The 28 year old missed out on a fastest qualifying place by a mere 0.8 seconds, a pace which he has run to in the past with a personal best of 1:46.65.
The heat was won by Bungei Wilfred of Kenya who qualified alongside second place Czapiewski Pawel from Poland.
Just under an hour later Robert Heffernan set off knowing that a personal best would most likely secure a high finish in this the final of the Men’s 20k Walk.
It wasn’t to be, however, as the Irishman failed to emulate that personal best of 1hr 21min 11sec, set in a cooler Royal Leamington in April of this year.
Nevertheless he posted a good time of 1hr 25min 02sec in the hostile humidity and had his best finish in major competition so far, when he claimed 14th spot.
The 23 year old will be extremely pleased with his progress having finished 28th in last year’s Sydney Olympics.
The impressive Russian, Roman Rasskazov (1hr 20min 31sec) won by two seconds and five secomds respectively over compatriots Ilya Markov and Viktor Burayev.
Karen Shinkins will run later this afternoon at 15.50 in the 400m first round.
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