Back in the early 1970’s the Queen of Raheny runners was a young red haired lady from St Assams called Mary Lynch.
She was the first to win the national senior cross country, first to win a national track title, first to hold a national record (3,000m) and all before the age of 25. Then she left us with her legend, moved to Limerick, work and family took over.
A career as stellar as that, when abandoned so early always leaves questions. How good could she have been. Undoubtedly she would have been a great road runner but the road running boom of the 1980’s came too late.
Truth is we will never know. What we do know is that while we had her she was the best; Her place in the history of Raheny Shamrock is well assured.
Close on four decades later a woman in her late 50s randomly shows up at a track session in Santry looking to join. What’s your name ? Mary Lynch. Ah your having a laugh!
She became known as Mary Lynch the second. The coincidence didn’t end there. Mary Lynch has spent her time as she moves through the age groups hoovering up national road titles and records like they were going out of style.
Where Mary Lynch the first circled the wagons and called a halt early, her successor Mary Lynch mark two shows an insatiable appetite to continue fight the good fight.
Wednesday night in Santry, that appetite was rewarded with a World record as part of an Irish W70 team in a 4x800m relay attempt executed to perfection.
At a Graded meeting in the home of Irish Athletics, in excellent conditions, calm and balmy, we witnessed athletics at its purest. Three Irish Women’s masters teams at W35, W45 and W70 level identified and hunted down World records over 4x800m.
In there proud and hungry, Mary Lynch the second played a huge role. The W70 team was ahead of schedule right from the get go.
Handed the baton for the third leg brought its own mixture of fear and excitement.
Fear that you might be the one responsible for letting the pace slip and the opportunity go. Excitement of chasing the goal.
In the end Mary’s contribution was immense. The team obliterated the old record by 79 seconds and Mary Lynch the second more than played her part.
To add to the excitement both the W35 and W45 teams also broke the world records on a track and in a stadium well acquainted with World records
In this very theatre of dreams back in 1958 the great Herb Elliott ran a 3:54.5 mile on a night of nights.
But one on the one night, now that beats Banagher.
If another Mary Lynch arrives in our midst in the years ahead she might best be advised to change her name by deed poll.
