"I'm over the moon to put a marathon on the board" 

Waterford A.C. athlete David McGlynn claimed the Irish National Marathon title at the Dublin Marathon, producing a career-defining performance to finish in two hours and eleven minutes.

“It’s hard to put into words,” he said.

“Training had gone really well; I’d been training the best I’ve ever been in the last few months.

“I had a big breakthrough over the half marathon in February…I’m over the moon to put a marathon on the board today that I’m really proud of.

“This a day you dream of.” 

McGlynn finished fifth overall in the field. American Daniel Mesfin crossed the tape in two hours and eight minutes to win the international field.

McGlynn shaved more than four minutes off his previous personal best that he ran last year in Dublin. The result marks him as the 10th fastest Irishman of all time.

A methodical, disciplined pacing strategy characterised his performance.

His half-way split was recorded as 1:04:58- leaving him in 12th place overall and 4th Irishman.

At the 25k mark, he launched his assault on the field. First, he eased past DSD’s Paul O’Donnell and Leevale’s Ryan Creech. Soon he was passing the defending national champion and former Irish record holder Hiko Tonosa.

While the other Irishmen faded into obscurity, McGlynn went from strength to strength, picking through the international field.

By the 40k mark, he was in fifth, hot on the heels of American Teshome Mekonnen, who eventually finished five seconds ahead of McGlynn.

McGlynn’s victory will also function as a crucial step towards an international debut over 42.2 kilometres.

The automatic qualifying time for the 2026 European Championships in Birmingham stands at 2:09:30. Athletes can also qualify through a points system provided they have recorded two strong marathon times (or one marathon and one half marathon) over the previous 18 months.

McGlynn said Dublin will serve as the first result he will bank towards the European Championships, with hopes that another strong performance in the Spring will place him in prime qualifying position.

Speaking to the Waterford News & Star in the lead-up to the marathon, McGlynn said his goal was to merely place on the national podium.

The Waterford A.C. athlete had spent weeks altitude training in the wafer-thin air of Font-Romeu, France in the build-up to Sunday's marathon. At his peak, he would string together successive weeks with 200 kilometres of running. He had averaged 145 weekly kilometres for the past calendar year.

He arrived back in Ireland just a fortnight ago.

Guiding him to his first national marathon title was Ray Treacy from Villierstown, the brother of 1984 Olympic marathon silver medalist John Treacy.

McGlynn came under Treacy’s tutelage more than four years ago whilst studying at Providence College in Rhode Island.

What’s next for McGlynn? Work, probably. The Waterford man is currently straddling a position at EY in Dublin while pursuing his athletic career.

Looking further ahead, Los Angeles burns freshly in his mind.

“The ultimate goal in the sport, is to become an Olympian,” he said.