Robert Heffernan of Togher A.C. was named Athlete of the Year at the Irish Life Health National Athletics Awards in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Santry today (December 6th).
The affable Cork walker, a former world champion received the top honour as a result of finishing 8th in the 50km Race Walk at the World Athletics Championships which also saw him pick up the Endurance Athlete of the Year award.
The Corkonian held off stiff competition from Brian Gregan of Dublin’s Clonliffe Harriers who went on to win the Track and Field Athlete of the Year award.
Athlete Ray Flynn was inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2017, a just reward for his prowess as he ran an impressive 89 sub four minute miles throughout his career and he is currently the Irish record holder for the 1500m and mile.
.@RM_Heffernan collects the team award for the Irish race walking team pic.twitter.com/N6uzYhROch
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) December 6, 2017
Flynn enjoyed a wonderful athletics career where he represented Ireland during two Olympic Games in both 1980 and a finalist in the 5000m at the 1984 Olympics in LA.
Flynn was also part of the quartet that set the 4 x 1 mile world record in Dublin in 1985 alongside previous Hall of Fame recipients Marcus O’Sullivan, Eamonn Coughlan and Frank O’Meara.
Furthermore, Al Guy was named as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, which is otherwise known as the pinnacle volunteer award while Pat Kelly of St Abban’s AC won the Outstanding Official of the Year.
