Boyce was just a couple seconds off the lead at the halfway stage, but in sweltering heat started to drift off the pace.

He crossed the finish line in a time just over four hours, but was 15 minutes behind the winner Maryan Zakalnytskyy of Ukraine.

11am: Brendan Boyce faces a battle for a top 10 finish in the 50-kilometre walk at the European Athletic Championships in Berlin.

The two-time Olympian had a great start and was among the leading group until the halfway stage.

He has since fallen off the pace and lay five minutes behind the leader with 10 kilometres remaining.

10.02am: Brendan Boyce battling heat for medal at European Championships in Berlin

Brendan Boyce is in a battle to win a European Championship medal in Berlin.

The two-time Olympian is sixth with Maryan Zakalnytskyy of Ukraine leading, but the Irishman is 50 seconds off the pace at the 32km mark.

He was in a group vying for third place just past the halfway stage of the 50km walk, but the heat has started to take its toll in Berlin.

Boyce was just 20 seconds off the lead having reached the 28km mark in two hours and eight minutes.

North Sligo athlete Chris O'Donnell has finished sixth in his 400 metres heat at the Olympic Stadium.

His time of 46.81 seconds was a seasonal best.

Ireland's Claire Mooney was left disappointed after finishing way off her season's best.in her 800m heat.

She came in seventh place with a time of 2:04.26, while Britain's Tracy Adele won the heat in a time of 2:01.91.

Ireland's other competitor in the 800m heats, Síofra Cléirigh Buttner, came sixth in her race.

The 23-year-old finished in an impressive time of 2:02.80.

Phil Healy will bid for a place in the 100 metres final this evening.

The dual 100 and 200 metres Irish record holder came second in her opening heat in a time off 11.44 seconds.

Thomas Barr is also in action tonight.

The 26-year-old runs in the 400 metres hurdles.