O’Rourke’s team leaving nothing to chance
The European silver medallist ran 13 seconds last week in Zurich and both Seán and his wife, Terri, admitted they were disappointed O’Rourke did not run quicker.
“Her training had gone very well and we were hoping for something spectacular,” Terri said.
“In her defence we worked back from the World Cup because she is treating that as a championship race.
“From that point of view we have been doing a mini-season in the build up to Split on Saturday week.”
She said that from that point of view she needed to compete in Zurich — go through the race situation, the warm up and the call room, to get the feel of it again.
“I know she was a bit disappointed herself because she expected to run faster but then she had Yanit just in front of her,” she said.
“Sean has decided to go to Brussels on Saturday just to make sure she is leaving nothing out in her final preparations. It could be just something very small. Barcelona took lot out of her. We gave her week off afterwards because she needed it. On the Thursday after the race she did a light session with me in Navan and then nothing until the Sunday. But I felt the week off at that stage would put us on the back foot — a week behind — and that’s how it turned out.”
Terri, who held the national long jump title until it was broken last season by Kelly Proper, said O’Rourke can run faster than Barcelona where she set a new national record.
“The fall (in Germany) was unfortunate because it set her back a little bit. She was faster on the flat and the hurdles were coming good,” she said. “Up to that point she was running faster than ever before in training — she was up there with Ailis (McSweeney).”
On Saturday she will renew rivalry with the world leader and world silver medallist, Priscilla Lopes-Schliep (Canada). Sally Pearson (Australia) will also be in the line-up.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
