Deadly Derval continues record run

DERVAL O’ROURKE of Leevale achieved her second national record in eight days when she retained her 60 metres hurdles title in a sensational 7.90 seconds at the National Indoor championships at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena yesterday.

In fact, it was the female athletes making all the headlines as Anna Boyle (Ballymena & Antrim) set a national record over 60 metres and Waterford teenager, Kelly Proper (Ferrybank), set a new national long jump record at 6.19m.

Also, Emily Maher posted the qualifying standard for next month’s world indoor championships in Moscow - finishing third in the 60m in a new PB of 7.36 seconds - and her Kilkenny City Harriers club-mate, Joanne Cuddihy, made a welcome return to competitive athletics to claim the 400m title in 54.13 seconds after surgery on both knees last year.