Congratulations to Mary Browne Mayo AC and the Irish team who ran a new F65 women’s World Masters 4x800m indoor relay record on Wednesday evening February 12 in Abbotstown Dublin.
Mary was joined on the relay team by Mary Jennings Waterford AC, Noreen Bonner Finn Valley AC and Nuala Reilly Drogheda and District AC.
They ran the relay in 14:16.72, almost 40 seconds better than the previous record which was held by a USA quartet who completed the event in 14:55.12 in March 2024.
It’s a wonderfully achievement, especially since three of the F65 team ran a tough 4,000 metres in the National Masters Cross-Country at Westport last Sunday February 9. In their category Mary Browne won silver, Noreen Bonner was 4th and Nuala Reilly 6th.
There were also new world records for three other Irish teams at the Abbottstown meet.
The F40 team of Ciara Hickey, Rachel Murphy, Denise Toner ran 9:24.56 – fractionally under the previous time of 9:25.49 held by USA since March 2016.
F70 created a new first world record 4x800m in 15:56.40 – the team was Evelyn McNelis, Carmel Ni Dhomhnaill, Phyllis Browne and Eileen O’Brien.
The Irish masters M80 team ran a brilliant 13:51.40. That’s just over two and a half minutes faster than USA 16:34.30 in March 2023.
The Irish team: Jim Langan, Michael Kiely, Tom Durcan and John MacDermott.
The event was facilitated by David Matthews, Athletics Ireland , Track and Field Live. And masterminded by Ronan Gately.
All new records will need to be ratified.
Mayo AC are very proud of their record breaking masters women athletes.
Mary’s achievement adds to the two World Outdoor relay records by Irish teams which included three Mayo AC runners last May and July.
In addition to Mary Browne, the other two Mayo AC masters athletes were Pauline Moran and Mags Glavey.
The three of them continue to be an inspiration to us all.
