THE PREPARATIONS FOR Rio 2016 can start now for Rob Heffernan after the Corkman qualified for his fifth consecutive Olympics after finishing fourth in today’s IAAF Race Walking Challenge in Slovakia.
Heffernan, who finished fourth in the 50k walk in London three years ago, crossed the tape in a time of 3:48:44 to reach the qualification mark as well as meeting the standard for this summer’s World Championships in Beijing.
The 37-year-old won gold at the 2013 World Championships and bronze in Barcelona five years ago but has yet to win an Olympic medal after finishing agoninsingly outside the top three in London.
He will be joined in Rio by Brendan Boyce from Letterkenny after the 28-year-old finished fifth today to secure his place at his second Olympics having also competed in London.
