O’Rourke clears final hurdle before bid for Gothenburg glory
She was headed by just two European athletes, finishing third in 12.89 secs to Kirsten Bolman (Germany, 12.81) and Glory Alozy (Spain, 12.85) in her heat before finishing fifth in the final in 12.87 secs.
Yesterday’s final was won by the world champion Michelle Perry in 12.59 secs. with US compatriot Lolo Jones, 12.59 secs, Kirsten Bolom third in 12.72 secs and Alozy fourth in 12.76 secs.
O’Rourke’s performance came at the end of a nightmare trip to Nuremberg. With her flight delayed, she missed the connection and after waiting two hours for a bus which would take her to Nuremberg she eventually decided to stay the night. She did not get to bed until after 1am.
“In the circumstances this was a tremendous performance,” her coach, Jim Kilty, said. “She had been hoping to get another race in before going to the European championships and, in fact, she got two very good races.
“From her on it will be just a matter of getting in some sharp runs and tapering off. She will not go out to Gothenburg until next Tuesday.”
Having got little exposure until the weekend Kirsten Bolman, who was fourth in the world championships in Helsinki last year, will now go to Gothenburg as favourite for the gold medal in the 100m hurdles. But all the indications are that Derval O’Rourke is set to blast under 12.80 secs and how far she dips under that mark will decide which medal she wins.
“With the injury and the late start the season the target has always been to get to the final and that has not changed,” Kilty said. “We will wait and see what happens then.
“This was the perfect finishing touch to her European championships preparations and we will have a few more training sessions before she leaves.”
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