Sports Digest/ ATHLETICS:Hopes that Derval O'Rourke could mix it with the world's best in the Golden League meeting in Oslo last night were not realised when she finished last of the seven athletes in the 100 metres hurdles, fading over the final 20 metres and clocking 13.19 seconds, a long ways outside her best of 12.72, writes Ian O'Riordan.
O'Rourke was never in contention as the American, Michelle Perry, sprinted to victory in 12.70 from Susanna Kallur of Sweden (12.76), with Delloreen Ennis-London of Jamaica third in 12.78. While it was only O'Rourke's second race of the season, clearly a lot of improvement is needed in the build-up to the World championships.
Galway sprinter Paul Hession was eying Paul Brizzel's seven-year-old Irish record of 20.54 in the 200 metres and while he succeeded in his quest with 20.53 seconds in finishing fourth, it won't be ratified because the following wind of +2.5 was just over the allowable 2.00.
James Nolan finished a disappointing ninth over 1,500 metres in a time of 3:45.57, while Irish women's steeplechase record holder Roisín McGettigan took 14th in her race in 9:49.35.
There was the inevitable world record and the 53rd was set at the famous Bislett Stadium when Olympic champion Meseret Defar from Ethiopia clocked a superb 14:16.64 over 5,000 metres, eight seconds inside her previous record which she set in New York last year.
Higgins takes lead
MOTOR SPORT:Mark Higgins led the Donegal International Rally after yesterday's first six stages, writes Brian Foley. The reigning British Champion and Irish Tarmac Championship leader was quickest over five stages in his Subaru WRC to lead triple World Champion Sebastien Loeb by almost 40 seconds.
Loeb started on a cautionary note but moved from fifth to second, scoring fastest time on stage six in his Citroen C4 WRC. Norwegian teenager Andreas Mikkelsen was third ahead of first Irish crew Kevin Lynch and David Moynihan, in Ford Focus WRCs.
Triple Irish champion Eugene Donnelly punctured on stage four, and finished the day fifth overall.
