Derval O’Rourke is in confident mood ahead of the World Athletics Championships following her impressive performance at the European Indoor Championships earlier this year.
The Leevale AC athlete took home a bronze medal in the 100m hurdles with many feeling, including O’Rourke herself, that she could have taken the gold medal. Now she will go to Berlin with high hopes of peaking at the right time.
O’Rourke said: 'I am really looking forward to Berlin. I have had a really disjointed season. Winning a medal in Turin was great and it was a real confidence boost for me but after that things have been a little strange with little injuries here and there.
'Despite the time I have been injured or sick my runs have been really good and that is a huge positive for me.'
'I spent four weeks out after the European Cup but I came back from that and ran a sub 13 seconds and again I got sick after running in Stockholm before the Nationals but I know that my form has been good this season when I have run,' O’Rourke went on to say.
Her focus is now very much on Berlin and getting her preparation right: 'I decided that after the Nationals instead of looking around Europe for one more race I would go into a mini training cycle to ensure I am completely fresh for the start of the World Championships. Hopefully I will be raring to go once I reach the start line.'
O’Rourke is hoping that with her form this season she can better her previous performances at the Championships, saying: 'In the last two World Championships I have made semi finals. I really want to make a final and then put in a great performance if I get there. I feel good at the moment and I hope I can peak at the right time.”'
O’Rourke will begin her Championships in the heats of the 100m hurdles at 5:10pm on Tuesday, 18 August. The World Track and Field Championships take place in Berlin, Germany from 15-23 August.
