Unsettled O’Rourke gets another chance

“Fingers crossed” was the message from Derval O’Rourke for today’s semi-finals and final as she battled through her world indoor 60m hurdles heat and a suspect starting gun as a fastest loser in 8.19 seconds at the Atakoy Stadium in Istanbul.

Although the Leevale athlete was only fourth in her heat, there was still plenty to be positive about last night as she goes into the semi-finals as joint eighth fastest overall.

Indeed her heat was the hardest, with red-hot favourite Sally Pearson winning in 7.85 — the only athlete to break eight seconds on the day.