IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Sesto San Giovanni
Date: 31/3/07
Robert Heffernan competed against the world’s top race walkers at the latest leg of the world race walking challenge held in Sesto San Giovanni in Italy recently. Going into the race on the back of a good 3-week block of training at altitude, Robert was confident of a high placing. Reigning Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti from Italy set the early pace, leading the group through 5km in 20.27. Brugnetti led until the 12 km mark where Australian Luke Adams overtook him. At the 15 km mark Brugnetti dramatically dropped out leaving Adams in the lead and Erik Tysse from Norway occupying 2nd place. At this point in the race Robert was having a superb walk in 3rd place and moving strongly through the field. However disaster struck for Robert at the 18 km mark where he was disqualified, much to the disgust of his coach Robert Korzenioski. Robert and his coach as well as many onlookers, felt that he had walked well to this point and he was unfairly treated in the final stages. Once again the judging on the course proved to be unsatisfactory, not the first occasion this has happened. Robert will however bounce back from this minor setback and challenge for top honors at the European Race-Walking Cup to be held in Royal Leamington Spa on May 20th.
Robert Heffernan competed against the world’s top race walkers at the latest leg of the world race walking challenge held in Sesto San Giovanni in Italy recently. Going into the race on the back of a good 3-week block of training at altitude, Robert was confident of a high placing. Reigning Olympic champion Ivano Brugnetti from Italy set the early pace, leading the group through 5km in 20.27. Brugnetti led until the 12 km mark where Australian Luke Adams overtook him. At the 15 km mark Brugnetti dramatically dropped out leaving Adams in the lead and Erik Tysse from Norway occupying 2nd place. At this point in the race Robert was having a superb walk in 3rd place and moving strongly through the field. However disaster struck for Robert at the 18 km mark where he was disqualified, much to the disgust of his coach Robert Korzenioski. Robert and his coach as well as many onlookers, felt that he had walked well to this point and he was unfairly treated in the final stages. Once again the judging on the course proved to be unsatisfactory, not the first occasion this has happened. Robert will however bounce back from this minor setback and challenge for top honors at the European Race-Walking Cup to be held in Royal Leamington Spa on May 20th.
