Derval O’Rourke has announced her retirement from athletics today.

New technology that examines in forensic detail the movements of Derval O’Rourke as she scales hurdles has allowed the Cork woman to highlight an injury that affected her performance at the recent Irish indoor championships, while also giving her the best possible preparation for the upcoming world indoor championships in Istanbul (March 9-11).

DERVAL O’ROURKE bids to claim national titles in the AAA championships in Birmingham on Saturday and the Woodies DIY Irish indoor championships in Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on Sunday.

DAVID GILLICK has not run an indoor 400m since the European indoor championships final in Madrid a year ago, when he stormed home to win a treasured gold medal.