Many records for female runners over 50 years old were set by Irvine. She was the first woman in her age group to run for under 20 minutes in the 5-kilometer run, 38 minutes in the 10-km, and 3:00 in the marathon. In 1983, Irvine competed in the California International Marathon, held in Sacramento, California. Her time of 2:51.01 set a world record for female runners over 50; it was over eight seconds faster than the previous record time, which she held, and about 13 minutes ahead of the next-fastest time by an over-50 woman. The time also bettered the 2:51.16 that was required to participate in the United States Olympic Trials. At the time, Irvine was the oldest competitor ever in a U.S. track and field Olympic Trials; by the time of the Trials, she was 54 years old. In the 1984 Trials, which qualified runners for the inaugural Olympic women's marathon, Irvine posted a time of 2:52.02, and was not one of the qualifiers. Of the 268 women who ran at the Trials, she ended up in 131st place. Regarding the experience, Irvine said, "I knew the trials would be my Olympics."