Familiar rivals to test O’Rourke in Belfast

WORLD indoor 60m hurdles champion Derval O’Rourke, who did not compete last year, will be surrounded by familiar faces when she bids to reclaim her national 60m hurdles title at this month’s Woodies DIY Irish Indoor Championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

At the corresponding meeting two years ago, O’Rourke defeated world outdoor bronze medallist, Delloreen Ennis-London in an Irish record time of 7.90. A few weeks later she won gold (60m hurdles) at the world indoors in Moscow before taking silver in the Europeans in Gothenburg for the 100m hurdles.

She will be hoping for more of the same in advance of the world indoor championships in Valencia, on the first weekend in March when she will be defending her title.