The 27-year-old Kilkenny City Harriers runner clocked 2:09.36 in Düsseldorf, finishing third and shaving sex seconds off Hiko Tonosa’s previous mark. Remarkably, it was only Lynch’s second competitive marathon–his first in Chicago last October ended with cramps and walking breaks, eight minutes slower than his new record.

Reflecting on his achievement, Lynch said that it hasn’t fully sunk in. “I was trying not to think about the record,” he said. With 2 or 3km to go, he realised perhaps he had a shot if he kept his time. Pushing through, he surged down the home straight, watching the clock on the banner, aiming for the record as he also dealt with the physical pain.

The record may be short-lived, he admitted. “Distance running in Ireland is really improving,” Lynch noted, citing Fearghal Curtin’s impressive 2:11.35 debut and Tonosa’s near-repeat of his record just two weeks earlier. “It’s nice to be part of maybe a new wave of marathon running in Ireland.”

Lynch trains in North Carolina with the Puma Elite team, coached by former Irish Olympian Alistair Cragg and his wife, American Olympian Amy Cragg. He credits them with the experience of raising his performance, as he states that it’s been “really eye-opening [to train] with multiple Olympians and national world record holders.” He is now eyeing a place in September’s World Championships marathon in Tokyo. Looking ahead, the LA 2028 Olympics are firmly on his radar. “It will probably take something like a 2:06.00 to make it, so this is a good stepping stone.”