Fabulous fourth for O’Rourke

Ireland's Derval O'Rourke lowered her national record to 12.67 seconds as she finished a magnificent fourth in tonight's 100 metres hurdles final at the World Championships in Berlin.

The only European to reach the final, O'Rourke blasted out of the blocks and cleared the first barrier alongside Canadian powerhouse Priscilla Lopes-Schliep.

Racing out of lane one, the Cork native dug deep to maintain her form as Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton hit the front.

The pressure was intense with five Olympic finalists in the field, including the champion from Beijing, Dawn Harper.

But she disappointed and finished an eventual seventh as Foster-Hylton took gold in a season's best time of 12.51.

Lopes-Schliep came through for silver (12.54), edging out the fast-finishing Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica who clocked 12.55.

And sweeping through off the final hurdle, O'Rourke outdipped Olympic silver medallist Sally McLellan of Australia for fourth.

It was a stunning performance from the Leevale AC athlete, who hit the headlines in 2006 when she won a World indoor gold and a European outdoor silver.

Having been plagued by back problems and other niggling injuries, and struggled at last year's Olympics, she had been written off by many as a possible major championship finalist.

But she proved her doubters wrong in emphatic fashion in the German capital, collecting two season's bests and then breaking her three-year-old national record of 12.72 in the final.

Although admittedly 'jealous' of the medal winners celebrating on their lap of honour at the Olympiastadion, O'Rourke was still delighted with her fourth place finish.

"I had absolutely no idea where I was in the race, in lane one," said the 28-year-old.

"But it's a national record, fourth in the world and I can't really complain.

"I've had a fantastic championships - two season's bests and a national record. I'm gutted not to have a medal, but I'll take this and smile."

A bronze medallist at the European Indoor Championships in March, O'Rourke has peaked at just the right time outdoors.

"I had such a ropey season that nobody would have predicted this.

"A year ago I went out in the first round in Beijing, so to get fourth here is brilliant. I get great support from home and want to thank my coaches Sean and Terrie (Cahill)."