She’s tough as marbles, a fierce competitor and now Derval O’Rourke of Cork, Ireland has yielded her best start of the season in a ‘major’ when qualifying for the Olympic 100m hurdles semi-finals.
The two-time European silver medallist was fourth in her heat this morning but her time, 12.91 seconds was her fastest so far this year and clinched the first of the fastest loser spots to go through to tomorrow’s semi-final.
Her heats was won by Turk Nevin Yanit in 12.70, ahead of America’s Olympic champion Dawn Harper (12.75) and Russia’s Ekaterina Galttskaya but O’Rourke’s run was enough to demonstrate that she is race-ready again despite a back spasm suffered four weeks ago and will be ready again in tomorrow’s semi-finals.
Australian world champion Sally Pearson was the fastest qualifier with 12.57 and American Lolo Jones was next fastest, winning her heat in 12.68.
