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Athletics:Derval O'Rourke finally gave Ireland something to cheer about as the Cork athlete put in a storming performance to secure the silver medal in the women's 100m hurdles final at the European Championships in Barcelona.
The 29-year-old proved her class on the big stage once more and dipped at the line to claim silver. Her time of 12.65 seconds set a new national record in a performance that makes up for an otherwise disappointing campaign from the Irish squad.
In securing silver the Leevale hurdler won only Ireland’s 11th medal in the history of the European Championships.
Turkey's Nevin Yanit claimed gold in a time of 12.63 with Germany's Carolin Nytra taking bronze (12.68). Yanit, the world student champion, set a second national record in as many races.
“I don’t know why but I just love championships. I seem to target one day a year and to be able to put in a performance at this level is brilliant,” said a delighted O’Rourke, who knocked 0.02 seconds of her old Irish record.
Her previous time was set when finishing fourth at last year’s World Championships. It means Ireland would not leave the championships without a medal following disappointing results from genuine medal hopefuls, David Gillick and Paul Hession in the 400m and 200m finals respectively.
“It’s unbelievable. When I look back on my career whenever it ends, the only thing that will count is medals because they go into the history books and can't be taken away.”
“I'd love to be champion but I ran a personal best and can't ask for any more. That was absolutely 100 per cent all I had and I'm over the moon.
“I love putting on the Irish kit and going out there and running my absolute best,” added O’Rourke, who missed this year’s Indoors but claimed silver at the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.
Ireland’s Alistair Cragg was also in action but he dropped out of the men’s 5,000m final after matching the early pace in the race.
President McAleese was quick to congratulate O’Rourke. “We are all incredibly proud of Derval’s wonderful achievement and join in celebrating this well-deserved silver medal win for one of our finest young athletes."
O’Rourke qualified for the final with an impressive semi-final run. With the top three qualifying automatically, she cruised into the final in third with a time of 12.75 seconds.
“I’m feeling good,” beamed O’Rourke after her semi-final run. “I found the whole thing a bit nervy to be honest, but who knows what will happen in the final?”
“The way I see it there are eight women who can win (the final) and eight who can lose so I’m just going to run like hell.”
There was disappointment for the Irish relay teams in action yesterday where all three teams failed to advance from their heats.
In the women’s 4x100m relay Amy Foster, Niamh Whelan, Claire Brady and Ailis McSweeney recorded a national record of 43.93 seconds but their fourth place in Heat 1 wasn’t good enough to secure an automatic qualifying spot for tonight’s final.
After a quicker Heat 2 the Irish quartet were relegated to third fastest losers and missed out at the Olympic Stadium.
O’Rourke chose not to participate so she could focus on the 100m hurdles.
The men's 4x400m relay took to the track shortly afterwards but Gordon Kennedy, Brian Murphy, Brian Gregan and Steven Colvert failed to advance from their heat.
The Irish quartet crossed the line in 3:07.21 to finish sixth which was well outside the top three automatic qualification spots and beyond the two fastest loser berths.
Gillick didn’t feature in the Irish 4x400m relay team today after the disappointment of finishing fifth in the 400m final.
The women’s 4x400m team of Marian Andrews, Joanne Cuddihy, Brona Furlong and Michelle Carey were sixth in Heat 2 to end a poor run for the Irish relay teams.