The Togher athlete flew in from his training base in Spain to compete in his native Cork for the first time since being crowned World champion in Moscow last August.

Heffernan led over the initial laps at the Cork IT track in Bishopstown, but the tall figure of Dane Bird-Smith loomed on his right shoulder and the Australian eventually set the pace alongside highly-regarded French competitor Kevin Campion.

Londoner Alex Wright, who now represents Leevale AC and is coached by Heffernan, also overtook the local hero in what was a high class race.

Bird-Smith, a 20km specialist, gave himself an early birthday present - he turns 22 next Tuesday - by storming to victory in a new personal best and meet record time of 10:56.23.

The 2014 world-leading mark is a big breakthrough for the former mountain runner who was clearly delighted to knock over 25 seconds off his 3km PB.

Campion was close behind in second (10:58.16) with the third-placed Wright (10:58.47) beating Heffernan's own Irish senior record.

Heffernan chalked up another record himself though, setting a new world masters (over-35s) best of 11:09.08, and said he was satisfied with his night's work when speaking track-side.

"It's difficult to come down to 3km when you're doing 120 miles a week. I don't like getting beaten but everything is on track (for the 50km at the Europeans)," he said.

"It's a brilliant indicator (for the rest of the season). It's a new personal best by a few seconds. These guys are class operators at 20km...I coach Alex and he's going to be a great athlete for Ireland in the future."

Waterford hurdler Thomas Barr, who recently dipped under 49 seconds when setting a new Irish record, enjoyed testing himself against high calibre opposition on home soil.

Barr finished strongly to claim third place in the 400 metres hurdles, clocking 49.95 behind new American champion Johnny Dutch (49.24) and Puerto Rican star Javier Culson who set a new meet record of 48.41.

Culson, the top-ranked hurdler in the world this year, stamped his authority on the race over the first 200 metres, sweeping clear of the field and the 6ft 6in athlete - leading off both his left and right over the barriers - cruised home in dominant fashion.

Zoe Brown, who is bound for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, improved her personal best to 4.42m when winning the pole vault. The Antrim athlete's winning vault was a first-time clearance and she then had three fails at 4.50m.

British duo Rabah Yousif (45.48) and Victoria Ohuruogo both successfully defended their 400m titles, with the latter - a younger sister of double World champion and former Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogo - posting a winning time of 52.95.

Fionnuala Britton finished third in the 3000m after being an early leader. Marielle Hall from Texas, the current NCAA champion, shook off Australia's Melissa Duncan with a 68-second final lap to claim a fine victory in 8:54.48.

The USA's Cleo VanBuren took the spoils in the women's 100m, her winning time of 11.35 seeing her edge out Irish duo Phil Healy (11.36) and Niamh Whelan (11.68). Keymar Hyman of the Cayman Islands produced a powerful finish in lane seven to take the men's 100m title (10.15).

Limerick's Sarah Lavin (13.30) finished second to British talent Serita Solomon (13.28) in the women's 100m hurdles, while American mile winner Kyle Merber (3:56.72) was one of seven men to go sub-four minutes.

The final track winners on the night were the USA's Heather Kampf, who won the 800m in 2:01.25, and impressive New Zealander Zane Robertson (7:41.37) was full of running when stretching clear of Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios to take the 3000m crown.

Multi-Irish champion Kelly Proper was denied a home win in the long jump, her leap of 6.20m seeing her finish second behind Bianca Stuart from the Bahamas (6.22).

For all the results from the 63rd Cork City Sports, see here.