O'Rourke progresses in 100 metres hurdles

Derval O’Rourke cruised through the heats of the 100 metres hurdles at the World Championships in Daegu today.

The European silver medallist finished second to world number one and gold medal favourite Sally Pearson in 13.07 seconds.

The 30-year-old came home 0.54secs behind the Australian.

O’Rourke took silver at the European Championships in Barcelona last year, but will have a tough task to make the final here after qualifying 19th fastest overall.

There was disappointment for Paul Hession in the 200m, though, and mixed emotions for the women’s 4x400m relay team who ran an Irish record which was not enough to progress.

Hession finished fourth in his heat in 21.02s.

The women’s quartet of Marian Heffernan, Joanne Cuddihy, Claire Bergin and Michelle Carey clocked 3:27.48 to finish fourth in their heat, 12th fastest of 20 teams overall.