Lynch and Doherty play their part in superb World Relay feat
By Stephen Leonard
LOCAL club runners Aoife Lynch and Kate Doherty played their part in Ireland securing its first ever podium finish at the World Athletics Relay Championships in Silesia, Poland.
Lynch of Donore Harriers and DSD athlete Doherty, both of whom have been training under Daniel Kilgallon at Tallaght AC, combined with Sarah Quinn of St Colman's South Mayo AC and Raheny Shamrock’s Sophie Becker to finish second in the 4x200m, setting a new national record time of 1:35.93.
The Ireland Women's Relay team, from left, Aoife Lynch, Kate Doherty, Sarah Quinn and Sophie Becker celebrate after finishing second in their 4x200m final during the IAAF World Athletics Relays in Poland.
Photo by Radoslaw Jozwiak/Sportsfile
They finished runner-up to Poland who won gold in a time of 1:34.98 with Ecuador taking third in 1:36.86.
“Kate was thrilled to be selected for these championships because she had been concentrating on her hurdles” explained Doherty’s former sprints coach at DSD, Liz McDonagh.
“She’s got a lot stronger and her speed has improved and a lot of credit for that has to go to Daniel Kilgallon in Tallaght.
“Sprinters want to train in an elite group because it really brings them on and Kate is such a determined and driven athlete” she added.
Aoife Lynch, meanwhile became only the second ever Donore Harriers senior woman to compete at a World Championship track event, following in the footsteps of Valerie McGovern who contested the World Track and Field Championship 10,000m at Tokyo in 1991.
Wearing a black ribbon in memory of her former coach John Geoghegan who sadly passed away last November, Aoife ran a blistering opening leg of 24.48 before passing the baton to Doherty (24.05) in second place behind favourites Poland.
And fine running by Sarah Quinn (23.58) over the third leg and anchor Sophie Becker (23.82) meant that Ireland held on for the runner-up spot.
