Izzi Batt-Doyle Smashes Australian Women's Marathon Record in Chicago

Adelaide's Izzi Batt-Doyle has broken the Australian women's marathon record with a stunning run at the Chicago Marathon, finishing sixth overall in the women's race. Batt-Doyle's time of 2:20:38 took 46 seconds off the mark set by fellow South Australian Jess Stenson in Valencia in December.

The 31-year-old's record-breaking run also lowered her own personal best by two minutes and 21 seconds. "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," Batt-Doyle said.

The women's race was won by defending champion Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia in 2:13:33. Batt-Doyle was paced by her fiancé Riley Cocks, and the pair ran isolated for most of the race. "[We were] isolated the whole race," she said. "The gun went off and second kilometre it was just the two of us, because we were running between groups."

Batt-Doyle's race was a model of control, with her splits barely moving. She went through halfway in 1:10:29 and then ran the second half in about 1:10:09, giving her a 20-second negative split. "We went through halfway in under the time needed to run 2:21, 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," Batt-Doyle said.

Batt-Doyle stayed cool in the warm conditions by hydrating beforehand and taking advantage of water cups during the race. Her quickest 5km split of 16:36 came between 35km and 40km, and she covered the last 2.2km at about 3:14 per kilometre, when she started to sense the record was hers.

"There is a small hill about 400 to go, and then you turn into the last 150 metres, and I saw the clock and that's when I really started celebrating," she said. "It was quite emotional. 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 5 kilometres, or last 1 kilometre or even the last 400 metres."

Batt-Doyle said she was proud to join the list of previous Australian record-holders that included Stenson, Sinead Diver and Benita Willis. "I think it's really validating for the hard work I've put in and it feels really special to be part of history, because there have been some fantastic runners before me, and fantastic runners to come," she said. "I really feel honoured, that sums it up. To be in that class of athletes. I'm really proud of that."

Kenya's Amos Kipruto won the men's race in 2:01:09.