Posted: 14 March 2006
Congratulations to Derval O’Rourke – World Indoor Champion in 60m hurdles
Former UCD sports scholar, Derval O’Rourke ran the race of her life to take the gold in the 60-metres hurdles at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Moscow on Saturday, beating Glory Alozie (Olympic silver medallist in 2000) of Spain into second and reigning European indoor champion, Susanne Kallur of Sweden into third.
Derval O’Rourke
Derval is the first Irish woman to win an indoor world gold and achieved this mighty feat in a new Irish record of 7.84 seconds.
Derval was a UCD sports scholar throughout her undergraduate years. She graduated with a BA in 2003 and a DBS in 2005.
Sending best wishes to Derval, Director of Sport, Brian Mullins said that he hoped her success would be an inspiration to the current sports scholars. “We aim to identify talent and to enhance their performance through facilities and resources. Currently we have 105 sports scholars covering athletics, basketball, camogie, Gaelic football, golf, handball, hockey, hurling, rugby, soccer and table tennis. It is marvellous to watch the progress of our graduates and we are all delighted with Derval’s success."
UCD student James Nolan (2nd Year, BSc Sports Management) also had an impressive result at the World Indoor Athletics Championships. He finished the 1,500m in a time 3:43.98, confirming his place as 6th in the world this year.