O'Rourke out at semi stage
Leevale athlete Derval O'Rourke failed to repeat her first-round heroics when bowing out of the 60-metre hurdles semi-finals at the European Championships in Madrid today.
The 23-year-old - who lowered her own national record (8.06 seconds) by 0.04secs yesterday - finished sixth (8.09) in the first semi-final, with four qualifying.
"It's disappointing because I felt good enough to go sub-8. Yesterday's run would have definitely got me in - especially in the slower second semi," said O'Rourke - who failed to make it out of her heat at the Athens Olympics.
The Irish team, meanwhile, were still coming to terms with last night's double gold performances of sprinter David Gillick and 3000m tyro Alistair Cragg at the Palacio de Deportes.
Dubliner Gillick - the first Irish winner over 400 metres since Bob Tisdall claimed gold over the one-lap hurdles at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932 - admitted: "It still feels like a dream. I can't believe I'm European champion.
"(David) Canal and the Russian were bumping each other and my coach (Jim Kidd) had told me that this could be the first race where I wouldn't lead out of the break and, if that happened, to be patient.
"I knew I'm stronger over the second 100m than Canal and the minute I caught him on the home straight I knew I had it, I just knew I had the gold medal!
"To be honest, after the semi-final, when I was throwing up here last night, I really didn't think I'd get gold. At that stage I was wondering if I would be able to run at all," added the 21-year-old.
"I don't think that's going to change me, but hopefully my grant will go up which is always good."
Cragg - already a world leader this year on the indoor stage - tore up the opposition to claim his first medal in an Irish singlet, clocking 7 minutes 46.37secs, over five seconds clear of second-placed Briton John Mayock.
The 24-year-old South African-born star - coached by Mayo man John McDonnell stateside - will turn his thoughts to the impending World Cross-Country Championships in "a day or two."
"Mark (Carroll) has helped me so much not just out there in the race but with advice this week. I wanted him to get a medal too.
"On a good day he would have been up there at the end but it wasn't to be. Half the victory goes to Mark," said Cragg - whose Irish compatriot Carroll, a 2000 gold medallist, was burned off in ninth.
"It was my first good run in Irish colours and hopefully there will be many more."
The Cross-Country Worlds take place in Saint-Etienne, France on March 19 to 20.
