O'Rourke cruises into World Championship semi-final

Derval O'Rourke cruised through to the semi-finals of the 100 metres hurdles at the World Championships in Berlin this evening, clocking a season's best time of 12.86 seconds.

O'Rourke got off to a lightning-quick start in her heat, reaching the first hurdle together with Australia's Sally McLellan, the fastest woman in the entire field this year.

American Michelle Perry, with heavy strapping on her right leg, struggled out of the blocks and the two-time World champion was shockingly never in contention, finishing seventh in 13.68.

McLellan managed to get ahead of O'Rourke in the final 30 metres, hitting the line in 12.82 seconds, but the Cork woman outdipped the fast-finishing Russian Yuliya Kondakova (12.88) for second place.

The fourth and final automatic qualifier from the heat was Lucie Skrobakova of the Czech Republic (13.04).

Lowering her season's best by 0.04 seconds, this run will give O'Rourke some much-needed confidence after she crashed out of the heats at the Beijing Olympics last year.

The former World indoor champion will be back on the Olympiastadion's blue track tomorrow evening for the semi-finals (5.45pm Irish time).