Izzi Batt-Doyle’s long-time goal of breaking the Australian women’s marathon record has come true.
Batt-Doyle (SA, Riley Cocks) finished an amazing sixth in the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:20.38 to break the Australian record.
She surpasses Jess Stenston (SA, Adam Didyk) who broke the record last year with a time of 2:21:24.
Speaking to Australian Athletics from Chicago, a delighted Batt-Doyle said she had been chasing the record for a while, and it felt amazing to finally break it.
“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,” she said.
“I’m really proud I could achieve it today and I’m so happy.”
Batt-Doyle ran the race with her fiancé and coach Riley Cocks and had her mother as well with her in Chicago.
She knew with as she turned the corner with 400m to go that she would break the record.
“Honestly we went through halfway in under the time needed to run 2.21,” she said.
“But I wasn’t sure because I felt like I was slowing in the second half as it was warmer, and just the general fatigue of the marathon.
“Once I turned there is a small hill about 400 meters to go, and then you turn into the last hundred and fifty meters, and I saw the clock and that’s when I really started celebrating.
“It knew I was going to get under 2.21, and that was a goal of mine another time barrier.
“I was able to celebrate the last 150 meters and seeing the clock, I gave a few fist pumps and smiles.”
In hot conditions in the windy city of Chicago, Batt-Doyle executed her race place plan for the tough conditions perfectly.
“It was quite emotional,” she said of the win, and finishing in the top ten in such a prestigious race.
You can think you can do it and hope you can do it, and be on pace to do it, but there is so much that can happen in the last five kilometers, or last one kilometer or even the last 400 meters.
“People can cramp and have all sorts of things happen.
“I feel you can’t really celebrate or have that sense of finish line relief until you actually get there.”
It’s been a huge year for Australian marathon runners.
Haftu Strintzos (VIC, Adam Didyk) broke the Australian men’s marathon record with a time of 2:06:20 in July at the Gold Coast Marathon.
By Luke Dennehy, Australian Athleics
Posted 12/10/2026
