Izzi Batt‑Doyle finished sixth in the women’s race at the Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:20:38. The result broke the Australian women’s marathon record by 46 seconds, a record previously held by Jess Stenson (2:21:24) from Valencia in December.

The Adelaide runner was paced by her fiancé, Riley Cocks, who helped her stick to a carefully planned pace from the start. Batt‑Doyle’s own words confirm the strategy: “I spent most of the race trusting our plan and the pacing strategy we had hoped to run the first half in, and hope that I would feel strong in the second half.”

Her splits were remarkably consistent: every 5 km segment was between 16:36 and 16:47, keeping her kilometre pace around 3:19‑3:21. This steady effort produced a negative split – the first half was completed in 1:10:29 and the second half in 1:10:09, a 20‑second improvement.

Beyond the numbers, Batt‑Doyle lowered her personal best by 2 minutes 21 seconds, showing how disciplined pacing can overcome warm weather and fatigue. She stayed hydrated by taking three or four water cups whenever they appeared, a habit she said helped keep her cool in the warmer conditions.

The achievement demonstrates that precise pacing, regular splits and good hydration are key tools for elite marathoners. By following a clear plan and trusting her pacer, Batt‑Doyle turned a strategic approach into a national record.