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While local interest may have been firmly focused on local walking star, Robert Heffernan, who certainly did not disappoint his many fans by smashing his own national record by almost 13 seconds, the true significance of Eder Sanchez's winning time of 11:14.01 for the 3000m Walk may not have been fully appreciated by many spectators who are not accustomed to watching world class walkers perform in this country.
In fact the stylish Mexican not only set a personal best time fot the event at the 58th. Cork City Sports last weekend but his winning effort is now the fastest time in the world for 2009 to add to his recent world best for 5km.
At the last world championships in Osaka the popular Mexican was 4th.in the 20k walk while the Cork man was 6th, so both athletes have realistic chances of standing on the rostrum in Berlin when the world championships are staged there next month.
Afterwards Eder Sanchez who is coached by his father Victor, himself an outstanding walker three decades ago, expressed his delight with the win and especially with the time of 11:14.01 which sets him up for Berlin in confident mood and hopes to return to Cork again next year.
Heffernan who almost stole the race on the line with an amazing home straight surge set new Irish figures with 11:14.09 and was equally pleased with his afternoon's work. "I'd like to have won but the finish came a bit too soon. I have not done a 3km in a while and considering the wind and everything I have to be happy. It should bring me on. The crowd were brilliant and it worked out for me in the end".
Third man home Olympian Colin Griffin from Ballinamore had a sensational race some seven seconds inside Heffernan's old national figures finishing in 11:19.70, very sharp walking from someone who specializes in the longer 50km distance. Jamie Costin, Ireland's other Olympic walker finished a creditable 4th.in yet another personal best of 11:36.31. Records all round in Cork.
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2010 PROGRAM OF EVENTS
| MEN: |
100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, 3000m, High Jump, Long Jump, Pole Vault |
| WOMEN: |
100m, 200m, 400m, 1500m, 100mH .,Long Jump, High Jump, Hammer. |
| JUNIOR MEN: |
1500m |
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