Sports · Running & Athletics · 2 hrs ago
Izzi Batt-Doyle breaks Australian marathon record in Chicago
Izzi Batt-Doyle set a new Australian marathon record in Chicago, running the race in 2 hours, 20 minutes and 38 seconds.
The 31-year-old South Australian beat the previous record of 2:21:24, set by Jess Stenson.
Batt-Doyle is a two-time Olympian in the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, and she improved her own marathon best by two minutes.
She said she knew she was on track at halfway but was unsure she could keep up the pace as she tired.
With 150 metres left, she saw the clock and began celebrating because she knew she would finish under 2:21.
The record has changed hands several times in recent years, following earlier marks set by Benita Willis and Sinead Diver.
Batt-Doyle said the achievement felt special and made her proud to be part of Australian running history.
Izzi Batt-Doyle broke the Australian women’s marathon record in Chicago with a time of 2:20:38.
She beat Jess Stenson’s previous record of 2:21:24.
The 31-year-old South Australian said the record had been on her mind for the past couple of years.
Batt-Doyle said she knew she was on track at halfway and celebrated after seeing the clock in the final 150 metres.
Her run came on the same day Eliud Kipchoge set a Melbourne marathon record of 2:09:10.
- Who
- Izzi Batt-Doyle, a 31-year-old South Australian and dual Olympian.
- What
- She set an Australian marathon record of 2:20:38, beating Jess Stenson’s 2:21:24.
- When
- Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Where
- The Chicago marathon.
- Why
- Batt-Doyle said the record was something she felt she could achieve and had been thinking about for the past couple of years.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I’m very, very happy. I feel a sense of relief because it’s something I really felt I could achieve and it’s been on my mind the past couple of years. I’m really proud I could achieve it today and I’m so happy
I think it’s really validating for the hard work I’ve put in and it feels really special to be part of history.
I was able to celebrate the last 150m after seeing the clock. I gave a few fist pumps and smiles.
Benita Willis set an Australian record of 2:22 in Chicago.
Sinead Diver cut Willis’s record by 1.02 minutes.
Jess Stenson set a new Australian record, trimming another 10 seconds.
Batt-Doyle ran 2:20:38 in Chicago to break Stenson’s record.
- Batt-Doyle’s time
- 2:20:38
- Previous record
- 2:21:24, set by Jess Stenson
- Batt-Doyle’s age
- 31
- Kipchoge’s Melbourne time
- 2:09:10
- Chicago race location
- Chicago, United States
Sources
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