Derval O'Rourke eclipsed her Irish 100m-metre hurdle record in just her third race of the season at the Athletissima 2006 held in Lausanne, Switzerland on 11th July.

Despite being the reigning World Indoor 60m-hurdle champion, O'Rourke, from Leevale AC, was relegated to the second section of the event. The 25-year-old from Cork ran 12.92 (+0.7) to place fourth in the 'B' race, twelfth overall and fourth among European competitors. American Michelle Perry won the 'A' race in 12.43 (+0.6), the fastest time in the World this season.

O'Rourke's previous record was 12.96 (+1.0) set Bydgoszcz, Poland on 20th July 2003. O'Rourke also equaled that mark (12.96, +1.6) at this year's Cork City Sports meet.

Just two days after her 2006 season debut at Cork City Sports where she equaled her National Record of 12.96 (+1.6) in the 100m hurdles, Derval O'Rourke ran a windy (+2.3) 13.02 to place fifth at the Athens IAAF Super Grand Prix in Athens, Greece on 3rd July.

After tonight's race, O'Rourke is ranked #26 in the World and #8 in Europe on the 2006 performance list.