Brett Robinson and Sinead Diver set new Australian marathon records on same day

Two Australian runners in two different parts of the world broke longstanding records in a mammoth day for athletics.

Sinead Diver set a new Australian marathon record in Valencia.

Brett Robinson didn’t tell anyone that he was going for Rob de Castella’s 36-year-old Australian marathon record at the Fukuoka International Marathon in Japan on Sunday.

The 31-year-old from Melbourne finally achieved his goal too, taking 20 seconds off sporting legend de Castella’s record, running 2:07.31, a personal best by more than two minutes, and he’ll go down in history as the fastest Australian man over 42.2km.

Then, on a banner day for Australian athletics, in Valencia, Spain, Tokyo Olympian and Commonwealth Games representative Sinead Diver shattered the Australian women’s marathon record by more than one minute.

Irish-born Diver beat her personal best by more than three minutes to eclipse Benita Willis’ longstanding 16-year-old record, clocking 2:21.34 to make it a historic day for Australian marathon runners.

“I have wanted this for so long and I wasn’t sure if I was good enough to get it. I’ve had a few goes at it now, this was my third crack at it, and every time I line up, it takes a lot,” Diver said.

“Things have to really fall into place, so I’m beyond delighted that it’s happened.

“Benita (Willis) is Australia’s best runner of all time, so it’s an honour to now have this record. I couldn’t be prouder today.”

HISTORY HAS BEEN MADE! Brett Robinson is Australia's fastest ever man across 42.2km, running 2:07.31 at the Fukuoka International Marathon this afternoon.

Brett slashed the 36-year-old record held by Rob De Castella by 20 seconds. More to come.#ThisIsAthleticspic.twitter.com/KAnc9LZGAb

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) December 4, 2022

Robinson said Australian athletes were “smashing records at the moment”and he wanted a piece of the action, setting his record as he ran fourth in a field of 36 runners.

“It’s such a great feeling. I’ve gone for this record a few times now, and it’s funny – I always talk about going for it before a race, but I didn’t mention it to anyone this time around. I went about my own business and I finally got it. I knew I was capable of it,” Robinson said.

“The current crop of Australian athletes are smashing records at the moment, and this was one of the last long standing ones for us to tick off, so it means a lot to me to finally get this today.”

Sinead Diver has become one of Australia's best Marathoners in recent history, hoping to continue this legacy at Valencia this Sunday

Olympic legend and marathon great Steve Moneghetti said Robinson’s run highlights the current strength of Australian distance running.

“It’s just so exciting to have Australian distance running taken to this next level. Brett’s had a lot of physical issues in running marathons, so this is a testament to his talent and his resilience in overcoming all of it,” Moneghetti said.

“It’s not a surprise that he’s broken the record because his progression has shown he has been capable of doing this, but this is just terrific. To be so competitive with a fourth-place finish shows what he can do on the world stage too.”

A second Australian road record has tumbled in just a matter of hours; @diversinead has shattered Benita Willis' 16yr old national women's marathon record by more than one minute, clocking 2:21:34.

What a day for Australian athletics! More to come.#ThisIsAthleticspic.twitter.com/4LikdrWkbE

— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) December 4, 2022

Diver said she was inspired by Robinson, although before her race she didn’t know whether he’d done what he set out to do.

“It’s really special to get this record on the same day as Brett,” Diver said.

“He has been targeting it for a while. I actually didn’t know if I wanted to know if he got it when I woke up this morning, so I didn’t look at my social media or anything, but as we were walking over to the start line, someone asked if I had heard about his record, and I got a rush of excitement. I was so happy to know it before I started running.”

Australia’s all-time top 10 – men’s marathon:

1. Brett Robinson, 2:07.31 – Fukuoka, Japan (4.12.2022)

2. Rob de Castella, 2:07.51 – Boston, USA (21.4.1986)

3. Steve Moneghetti, 2:08.16 – Berlin, Germany (30.9.1990)

4. Derek Clayton, 2:08.33.6 – Antwerp, Belgium (30.5.1969)

5. Pat Carroll, 2:09.39 – Beppu-Oita, Japan (5.2.1995)

Australia’s all-time top 10 – women’s marathon

1. Sinead Diver, 2:21.34 – Valencia, Spain (4.12.22)

2. Benita Willis, 2:22.36 – Chicago, USA (22.10.06)

3. Lisa Ondieki, 2:23.51 – Osaka, Japan (31.1.88)

4. Lisa Weightman, 2:24.00 – Berlin, Germany (25.9.22)

5. Eloise Wellings, 2:25.10 – Nagoya, Japan (13.3.22)

Originally published as Brett Robinson and Sinead Diver set new Australian marathon records on same day