Mayo AC athlete helps break world relay record

History was made last week (July 30) at Morton Stadium when a new 4x800m Relay World Record was set by the Irish Masters women over 75.

The attempt was organised by Ronan Gately and held in conjunction with the Dublin Graded Meet at Morton Stadium.

During the track season starting in April the Dublin Athletics Board holds a Graded League for Track and Field Athletes of all standards. Here athletes have the opportunity to compete in Track and Field Competition with other Athletes of equal standard.

The relay attempts were at 18:45, first on a programme which included a number of 100m, 1500m as well as Field events.

The Irish team ran in this order: Eileen Kenny Tullamore Harriers AC), Pat Kelly, Tullamore Harriers AC/SC Striders Track Club), Evelyn McNelis Naas AC), and Mags Glavey (Mayo AC).

They were assisted in the attempt by four masters women: respectively Edel Maguire, Maura Groom, Maura Dervin and Ann Gilsenan The o75 quartet blazed a trail around the track to record a time of 15:00.41, demolishing the previous record by well over four minutes.

They easily surpassed the old mark of 19:34.93 held by an Atlanta Track Club team, who ran that time just ten days previously on July 20, 2025, at the 2025 USATF Masters Outdoor Championships at Huntsville, Alabama.

This marks yet another World Record set by an Irish Masters Team and once again with Mayo AC involvement.

Split times for the four were: Eileen, 3.22.74; Pat 3.57; Evelyn, 4.25; Mags, 3.15.7.

The W75 team had done some training and relay practice in recent weeks at Athlone. And the National Masters Outdoors Championships was another opportunity for some to prepare.

Mags Glavey ran the 800m there on July 26 specifically as preparation, finishing in 3:19.16 to win gold.

Elsewhere, another Mayo AC athlete took home the top prize at the 10km trail race in Lanzarote as Mayo AC athlete and Western People columnist Paula Donnellan Walsh was the first female home over the weekend.