O’Rourke title defence in doubt after poor display
The time was outside of her 8.08secs seasonal debut in Athens on Wednesday night — a time which had given her plenty of hope for the season.
“It just did not go well for her today,” coach Sean Cahill said. “Her injured foot is not right yet and she needs to be careful with it.”
She had missed four weeks of training with a bruise on a foot and was only given the all clear to train two weeks ago.
She has another race coming up in Ghent and whether or not she goes to Valencia for the world championships could depend on how she performs there.
There was good news from two other Irish athletes over the weekend. David Campbell became the newest member of Ireland’s sub four-minute milers club when he finished second in a race in Wanganui, New Zealand, in 3:58.19. The race was won by Adrian Blinco of New Zealand in 3:57.65.
Alistair Cragg put himself back in the world championships picture when he won the 5,000m at the Tyson Invitation indoor meet at his local track in Fayetville, Arkansas, in 13:32.01 which is the fastest time in the world this year.
The former European indoor 3,000m champion finished 15 seconds ahead of the Kenyan, Jacob Korir, 13:47.57, and is expected to confirm this week whether or not he will compete in the world indoor championships but the early indications are that he will not travel.
He has already confirmed his participation in the Woodies DIY Irish inter-club cross-country championships in Belfast on March 1 with the world cross-country championships in Edinburgh on March 30 his prime target.
