O'Rourke underlines form

Athletics: Once again Derval O'Rourke has underlined her medal prospects at next week's European championships in Gothenburg by putting two world-class runs back to back at the Gala International meeting in Nuremberg yesterday.

Twice within 65 minutes O'Rourke ran impressive times - 12.89 and then 12.87 seconds - in the heats and then the final of the 100-metre hurdles.

Against some of the very best hurdlers in the world, the Corkwoman finished third in her heat in 12.89 (victory going to Kirsten Bolm of Germany in 12.81) and then, in the eight-runner final, she went faster still when posting fifth in 12.87.

Victory in the final went to the Michelle Perry in 12.59, one of the fastest times in the world, the American edging out her compatriot Lolo Jones as both were given the same time.

Bolm took third in 12.72 and the Spanish record-holder, Glory Alozie took fourth in 12.76, O'Rourke coming next.

These times come in the same week as O'Rourke moved into the elite of world-class hurdling when she smashed her Irish record of 12.92 when clocking 12.85 at the Helsinki Grand Prix last Wednesday night.

Back at home, Paul McKee was also well satisfied with his final test run before the European championships; he won the 400 metres at Saturday's Dublin International meeting in Santry, clocking 46.28 seconds in an unhelpful wind.

The 29-year-old Belfastman edged out the one big name in the field, the South African Ofentse Mogawane, who has run 45.11 this year.

David McCarthy, who also runs the 400m in Gothenburg, as does David Gillick, ran 46.61 for third.

Paul Hession had an important test run in the 200 metres, having missed the national championships last weekend, and came through it smiling by winning in 21.20 - again into the wind.

Gillick, moving down a distance to sharpen his speed, took third in 21.61.

The feature race, the Morton Memorial Mile, lacked the early commitment necessary for a sub-four clocking, and the win went to South African Johan Cronje in a moderate 4:00.79.

Colin Costello was the first Irish finisher, but some way back, 10th in 4:10.69, much slower than the 4:01.83 national junior record he set in the same race last year.

Three other Irish sprinters heading for the Europeans - Anna Boyle, Ailis McSweeney and Paul Brizzel - suffered defeat, Boyle losing to South Africa's Heide Seyerling in the last stride of the 200 metres.

McSweeney lost to the Waterford schoolgirl champion Niamh Whelan over 100 metres, and Brizzel was decisively beaten by Morne Nagel of South Africa, also over 100 metres.

Elsewhere, Gareth Turnbull's hopes of securing a late qualifying time for Gothenburg were dashed at the British Milers Club meeting in Cardiff, his 3:46.58 in second place well outside the 3:41 required.

The pacemaker did his job for the opening two laps before Turnbull was left to battle against the wind at the front on the third lap and soon lost momentum.

The Belfastman last week received permission to race again, a doping charge against him having been deferred until September.