DERVAL O’ROURKE SHOOK off concerns about her Olympic fitness on Tuesday night as she clocked her fastest time of the year at a meeting in Italy.
The Corkwoman got her preparations for London 2012 back on track in Lignano where she finished second in 13.02 seconds to American superstar Lolo Jones in the 100m hurdles.
Jones, the world indoor champion in 2008 and 2010, won in 12.85 with her US team-mate Yvette Lewis third in 13.08.
O’Rourke was forced to withdraw on the eve of the Irish Senior Track and Field Championships with a back spasm earlier this month, casting doubt on her fitness ahead of her third Olympics.
At the time, O’Rourke downplayed her absence as “no major drama” and proved with this latest performance that she is hitting her stride at the right time.
In Lucerne, Switzerland, Paul Hession finished second in the men’s 200m with a time of 20.54 while in the women’s high jump, Deirdre Ryan cleared 1.86m.
