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Limerick hurdler Sarah Lavin breaks national record
Sarah Lavin breaks the long-standing national record at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest this Wednesday
Sarah Lavin makes history as she breaks the Ireland national 100m Women’s Hurdle record
Limerick athlete, Sarah Lavin made history at the World Athletics Championships representing Ireland in Budapest on Wednesday evening as she broke the Irish record in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m hurdles.
Lavin, of Lisnagry, delivered a remarkable performance, clocking in at 12.62 seconds during her semi-final run. The astounding time secured her spot in the Irish athletics history books by surpassing a 13-year-old record of 12.65 seconds set by Derval O’Rourke.
The record-breaking time came in an impressive month for the Limerick sprint hurdler who recently broke her personal best by 0.05 seconds before the Budapest performance on Wednesday.
It was a bittersweet moment for the Lisnagry hurdler as although she broke the long-standing Irish record, the runner missed out on qualification for the final.
Speaking to Virgin Media Sport following the racem Lavin said the feeling was “bittersweet”.
Lavin told Virgin Media, “I’ve dreamed of getting that National Record since I was that size, we have it. I made a mistake on hurdle nine and let her pass me, but I was up there with some of the best in the world and I guess 12 months out from Paris Olympics it’s where you want to be.”
Speaking about the race and breaking the record, Lavin spoke graciously about Derval’s record, who she said “made her work hard” to break it.
“It was it was a brilliant race, it was the best raced by any Irish person ever,” she said, before saying jokingly, “And I mean, sorry Derval, but she had her time, she made me work hard enough for it now, let’s be honest.”
“To everyone at home watching, supporting, I felt like a local when I came out into the stadium, the cheer was sensational, I guess particularly Jackie and Ray at home, we did it!”