Izzi Batt-Doyle has made history as the new distance queen of Australian athletics, smashing the national marathon record by more than 45 seconds. On Sunday in the Chicago Marathon, Batt-Doyle clocked an impressive time of 2:20:38, securing sixth place overall.

The 31-year-old athlete shaved off 46 seconds from the previous record of 2:21:24, held by Jess Stenson since 2025. A two-time Olympian in the 5000m, Batt-Doyle was already the Australian record-holder in both the half-marathon and 10,000m events.

Batt-Doyle drew inspiration from former record-holder Benita Willis during her run. She improved her personal best by an astonishing two minutes, surpassing Willis's previous Chicago record of 2:22:36, which had stood since 2006. This new achievement sets her on a strong path toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2032 Games in Brisbane.

As she crossed the finish line, Batt-Doyle raised her arms in jubilation, embracing her fiancé Riley Cocks, who finished just behind her.

“I’m very, very happy. I feel a sense of relief, because it’s something I really felt I could achieve,” Batt-Doyle expressed after her remarkable performance. She credited Cocks for his support throughout the race, stating, “I spent most of the race trusting our plan and the pacing strategy.”

Previously, Batt-Doyle’s best marathon time was 2:22:59 at Valencia in 2024. Over the past year, she showcased impressive form, including a 2:25:06 finish at the Boston Marathon and four half-marathon victories in Australia.

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Hawi Feysa defended her Chicago title, finishing in 2:13:33, while Sharon Lokedi from Kenya took second with 2:14:07 after a fierce battle in the final kilometers.