Masters Athletes Smash the 4x800m World Record

by Perri Williams

At Morton Stadium tonight three World Masters records were smashed. The master’s ladies over 35, over 45 and over 70 made a herculean attempt on the respective 4x800m relay records. Organised as part of the final Dublin graded meet, the record-breaking attempt kick started tonight’s programme.

Starting with the over 35s, the team of Michelle Cox (Newbridge), Eimear English (Dunboyne), Laura Frey (Lagan Valley) and Fiona Gettings (Longford) broke the previous record of 9.25.27 held by the USA since 2011. All four ladies are a regular in races around Ireland, mixing equitably with senior athletes. Gettings came late into athletics but has run 10.04 for 3000m and 4.36 for 1500m in the past year. Earlier this year she won a silver medal at the European Masters 3000m in Poland. In the same race Michelle Cox finished third.

The over 45 record was set just last year by Australia. At 9:43.13, the Irish team were intent on not letting it sit in the record books a minute longer. Maria Dunne (St Laurence O’Toole), Maria McCambridge (DSD), Denise Egan (Ferbane) and Denise Toner (Monaghan) recorded 9:26.49, dipping some 17 seconds under the old mark. Maria McCambridge is a former Irish international who competed over 5000m back in the 2004 Olympic Games. She has also competed in six world cross country championships and four European cross countries, along with world and European track and field championships. Denise Toner ran 9.27 as a forty-three-year-old, a challenge to any senior athlete at the moment. Maria Dunne won a silver medal at last years World Indoor 800m in Poland.

The over 70s team of Bridget McCabe (Mullingar), Eileen Kenny (Athlone), Margaret Glavey (Mayo AC) Mary Lynch (Raheny) broke the old record of 14.45 held by Germany since 2013. Recording a time of 13:27 they shaved well over a minute off the previous attempt. McCabe was part of an excellent Mullingar Harriers team that grace the national podium on several occasions back in the 1980s.

These records will be submitted for ratification to World Athletics.