Friday August 19th, 2016
Men’s 50km Race Walk
Robert Heffernan: 5th in 3:43:55
Brendan Boyce: 18th in 3:53:59
Alex Wright: DNF
Rob Heffernan was first home for Team Ireland in today’s Men’s 50km Race Walk, fifth in a time of 3:43:55.
The 38 year old came into the race confident in his own medal prospects but cramped up and chose to guarantee his finish rather than risk dropping out.
Heffernan was in a chase group for most of the race behind France’s Yohann Diniz, who collapsed before recovering to finish in seventh.
“I tried to win the Olympic Games and I finished sixth” – another heroic performance from @RM_Heffernan #rterio2016 https://t.co/mhMKuyFJPw
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 19, 2016
Slovakian Matej Toth finished strongest to take gold, while Hirooki Arai’s (JPN) disqualification moved both Heffernan and Brendan Boyce up one place.
Brendan Boyce secured 18th meaning that Ireland were one of just four countries with two finishers inside the Top 20.
The Letterkenny man had been hoping for a Top 16 finish, but put in a consistent shift through the 25 laps.
Conditions were gruelling on the Pontal course with 13 racers disqualified and 19 unable to finish from an initial field of 80 racers.
Alex Wright had to pull up before the 35km mark after a promising start where he led the main group through 20km in 11th place.
Wright had completed the Men’s 20km Race Walk (46th) just seven days previously.
More: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/heffernan-a-fine-fifth-at-fifth-olympics
Modern Pentathlon:
Swimming Heat 1: 4th in 2:17.38 for 18th overall (288 MP Points)
Fencing Bonus Round: 1 Bonus Victory for 12th Overall (503 MP Points)
Show Jumping: Clear Round (803 MP Points)
Combined Running/Shooting: 7th (522 MP Points)
7th Overall with 1325pts
Natalya Coyle was 5th through 150m of her 200m freestyle event, but finished strong to secure 288 MP Points in her first event of the day.
Up next was fencing where she used her citóg stance to beat Chloe Esposito (AUS), but had to force the bout against Laura Asadauskaite (LTU) and lost out with seven seconds remaining after two unsuccessful attempts at the feet.
With a number of riders unseated, Natalya Coyle produced an inch perfect performance for the maximum 300 points allowed and just the fourth clear round.
A solid final outing ensured she finished 7th overall to improve on her London 2012 performance and secure another Top 10 finish for Ireland at Rio 2016.
Golf:
Stephanie Meadow Round 3: 71 (T29 Overall on +1)
Leona Maguire Round 3: 74 (T23 Overall on O)
It was a rollercoaster of a day for Stephanie Meadow.
Four birdies in a row on the front nine saw her make the turn in 34, before bogies at 12 and 13 pegged her back.
She parred her way home from a birdie at the 15th to card a 71 for the day and tie for 32nd overall.
Leona Maguire had an unblemish record over the first 11 holes and threatened to break into the top ten.
Four bogies between the 12th and 16th saw her drop back and it took plenty of resolve to muster a par at 17 before she signed off with a bogie at the last.
