O'Rourke struggles in Zurich
Derval O'Rourke struggled to seventh in the 100 metres hurdles at the Weltklasse/IAAF Gold League meeting in Zurich tonight.
The European silver medallist clocked 13.21 seconds at the famous Letzigrund Stadium - well down on the national record of 12.72 she set when claiming silver at the Gothenburg championships last week.
The Cork woman was not helped by her draw in lane eight, but still posted the second quickest reaction time (0.147) behind Brigitte Foster of Jamaica.
O'Rourke faded away in the closing 30 metres, obviously feeling the burn in the calf muscles that were troubling her before the European final.
After a week of celebration, European champion Susanna Kallur of Sweden also had a disappointing evening, finishing fifth (12.86), while O'Rourke's fellow European silver medallist Kirsten Bolm (Germany) came home in fourth in 12.85.
American Michelle Perry, the reigning World champion, claimed victory in 12.65, Foster was second in 12.80 with Damu Cherry of the USA third (12.83).
O'Rourke, who had a battle with shin splints this week and has been unable to do any speed work since Gothenburg, is scheduled to run again at the Herculis/IAAF Super Grand Prix in Monaco on Sunday.
She is also set to compete at the Golden League meets in Brussels (next Friday) and Berlin (September 3).
