Australia’s marathon stocks have soared to new heights at the Valencia Marathon tonight, with Commonwealth champion Jessica Stenson breaking Sinead Diver’s national marathon record to become the fastest Australian woman in history over the distance.
Stenson (SA, Adam Didyk) produced a masterful run on one of the world’s quickest courses, finishing fifth in 2:21:25, to slice nine seconds off the previous record of 2:21:34.
The performance also shattered her own personal best of 2:22:56, cementing her place at the forefont of Australian distance running.
On track for the record throughout the entirety of the race, 38-year-old Stenson surged through the final kilometres and crossed the line with a roar, delivering a breakthrough moment in a career already marked by three Olympic Games and Commonwealth success.
“I just got off the phone to Sinead, she called me right away and we just cried. She was so happy for me, and it was so nice to connect with her after the race,” Stenson said.
“I’m so delighted and so satisfied. Everyone’s always said Valencia is a magic place to run but I have to admit, I was really nervous coming into this race because I knew I was going to have a crack at the record and that it was going to hurt. I was expecting a lot of pain, mental pain more than anything but it was one of those days that I was pleasantly surprised and I found my flow.”
Running her third marathon this year, Stenson also said she was grateful to Diver for the record she had set in 2021, highlighting the camaraderie within Australia’s distance ranks.
“I’m so grateful for Sinead and that record she had set. When there was one kilometre left to go, I was thinking of her and trying to squeeze as much as I could out of myself, knowing what was possible to achieve. I have the highest level of respect for her, so she was there with me in a positive way.
“I’m also so happy that Adam (Didyk, coach) and Dylan, my husband believed in me and what I could achieve because you think of those moments too.”
While Stenson was the first Australian woman across the line, Thomas Do Canto (NSW, Gary Howard) was the first countryman home, clocking 2:11:14 for 57th overall and 40th in the men’s race, in his first marathon PB since running Valencia in 2023. His run continues a steady rise and reinforces Valencia as a proven stage for Australian breakthroughs.
Versatile on the track and roads, Isobel Batt-Doyle (SA, Nic Bideau) finished seventh of all women, running 2:23:35, while Genevieve Gregson (QLD, Nic Bideau), in her first race only five-months postpartum finished 22nd in 2:28:51.
Also competing was Olympic finalist Ryan Gregson (QLD, Nic Bideau) who ran his fourth fastest marathon in 2:17:21, as well as well as Australian marathon champion Haftu Strintzos (VIC, Adam Didyk) who crossed the line in 2:26:20. Former men’s record holder Brett Robinson (VIC, Nic Bideau) registered a DNF after pulling out of the race at the 30km mark.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 7/12/2025
