A month ago, Ireland’s Anne Gilshinan set a W55 world record in the 1500, clocking 4:45.65 at an Irish Milers meet in Greystones, Ireland. Don’t look now, but now the 800 WR is toast. Anne ran 2:19.63 to become the oldest sub-2:20 woman as she crushed the listed WR of 2:21.98 by Australia’s Jeanette Flynn at Brisbane in 2007. (See complete results here.)

Anne posted to Facebook:

What a fantastic day at the Irish Milers Meet at Le Cheile Leixlip today. I set a new World Record in the 800m, W55 category, in 2.19.63. Thanks in particular to Susan and Michael of Irish Milers for making me so welcome, and for all their support. Thanks also to my good friend Rich Burns for all his hard work in designing my training schedule. To Star Geoghegan for his therapy sessions and Brian Kirwan for his speed and strength conditioning classes. Also a big thank you to my club Slaney Olympic for their continued support.

On the Age-Graded Tables, Anne’s mark is equivalent to an open time of 1:55.82. The listed W55 American record, BTW, is 2:27.00 by Sue McDonald at 2018 Spokane nationals. (But she ran 2:26.64 more recently at Occidental.)

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