The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
When Cork man Rob Heffernan won the gold medal in the men’s 50km walk at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow this week, it led to great celebrations in Corofin and Ennis.
John Hayes, a native of Kells in Corofin, coached the new world champion for many years. Domiciled in Cork since 1967, John has been involved with Togher AC for most of that time.
“When my kids took up running, I got involved with Togher AC. Rob, who is a neighbour, joined the club in the early ’80s and I coached him from there up to a few years ago,” John told The Clare Champion on Wednesday.
“He did a lot of juvenile cross-country before moving up to junior level and then into race walking. He won the national junior and U-23 titles and he won the national senior indoor title,” said Hayes, before explaining that he continued to coach Heffernan “up to his second Olympics”.
The world-famous Olympic and world champion, Robert Korzeniowski, who won four gold medals at the summer Olympics and three at the world championships, became Heffernan’s coach for a few seasons. He is now coached by his wife, Marian.
“Rob is very focussed,” said Hayes. “He was as good a runner as a walker. He recorded 31 minutes for 10km when he was 18. That was outstanding. He was equally as good. He was offered a scholarship to the US but I suggested not to go as there wasn’t a culture of walking there.”
John’s brother, Gerry, is a prominent official with Ennis Track Club. “It takes a whole package of people to win a championship,” Hayes said, paying tribute to all who have helped the Cork man to his success.
