Izzi Batt-Doyle Set New Australian Marathon Record
The athlete completed the Chicago marathon in 2:20:38, securing an eighth-place finish.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Running
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Izzi Batt-Doyle set a new Australian marathon record in Chicago, crossing the finish line in 2:20:38. This performance lowered the previous national record by 46 seconds.
Why it matters
The result represents a significant milestone for Australian long-distance running. Batt-Doyle also improved her own personal best by two minutes through a tactical negative split.
Batt-Doyle finished the race in eighth place with a 1:10:29 halfway split. Her final time beat the 2:21:24 mark set by Jess Stenson in 2025.
The players
Izzi Batt-Doyle
She is an Australian long-distance runner who holds the national marathon record.
Pat Tiernan
He is an Australian long-distance athlete who participated in the Chicago marathon.
Jess Stenson
She is an Australian distance runner who previously held the national record for the marathon.
The details
By maintaining a consistent pace throughout the race, Batt-Doyle successfully executed a negative split, completing the second half faster than the first. Pat Tiernan also competed in the event, finishing his race in 2:15:18.
Timeline
Benita Willis established an Australian marathon record in 2006.
Sinead Diver lowered the national record in 2022.
Izzi Batt-Doyle recorded a 2:22:59 marathon time in Valencia in 2024.
Jess Stenson set a new Australian record in 2025.
Izzi Batt-Doyle set the current Australian record on October 11, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This record-breaking run updates the competitive landscape for Australian distance runners aiming for international qualification standards. It reshapes the national record books and sets a new pace for current athletes competing on the global stage.
Batt-Doyle successfully utilized a negative split strategy to achieve her time, proving the effectiveness of pacing the second half of the race faster than the first. The result officially lowers the national standard for the marathon to 2:20:38.
The takeaway
Achieving a personal best by two minutes highlights the importance of consistent pacing and negative splits in professional marathon racing. Athletes can look to this performance as a model for tactical management in long-distance events.
Further reading
For more on competitive athletics, see the latest updates in Running.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 7NEWS.
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