Local athlete helps Irish relay team break world record

Athlone woman Eileen Kenny was part of an Ireland Masters relay team which set a new world record at Morton Stadium in Santry last night (Wednesday).

Eileen was on the Ireland O70s 4 x 800m team which broke the old record of 14.45, set by a team from Germany in 2013. The Irish quartet - which included Bridget McCabe (Mullingar Harriers AC), Margaret Glavey (Mayo AC) and Mary Lynch (Raheny Shamrock AC) - broke the previous record by over a minute, recording a time of 13.27.

A native of Mount Temple and living in Athlone, Eileen is a member of Tullamore Harriers AC. She is a former member of both Athlone AC and Mullingar Harriers AC, and is hugely respected in athletics circles throughout the Midlands.

Eileen currently holds the Irish O70s record in outdoor track for 800 metres, 3000m and 5000m. She also holds the record in her age category road racing in the 5km (22.20), 10km (45.28) and has run an incredible half marathon time of 1.43:33.

She has represented Ireland in international competitions on several occasions and has won gold medals at European and World Championsip events. Eileen's exploits in athletics are a source of inspiration as to what can be achieved at any age.

There was further cause for celebration at Morton Stadium last night when Ferbane AC's Denise Egan helped Ireland's O45 4 x 800m relay team to break the world record in their age category.

Denise was joined by Maria Dunne (St Laurence O’Toole AC), Maria McCambridge (Dundrum South Dublin) and Denise Toner (Monaghan AC). They recorded a time of 9:26.49, taking 17 seconds off the previous time.