Luke guides Izzi to marathon glory

By Aiden Box

OVER 35,000 runners took part in the 2022 Melbourne Marathon Festival on October 2, including 2020 Tokyo Olympian Izzi Batt-Doyle, who clocked the fastest debut marathon time ever by an Australian woman (2:28:10), coming second overall in the women’s race. 

Batt-Doyle competed in Tokyo in the five-kilometre event and travelled from Adelaide to pull off the amazing feat in her first marathon, although it wasn’t a solo effort, her elite team should not go unnoticed. 

A big part of her three-person team was San Remo prodigy Luke Nicholson, who was tasked with the role of an elite pacer for the Olympian. 

Nicholson and Batt-Doyle’s other two teammates, ran in diamond formation, meaning Luke ran at the front, taking the wind and creating a slipstream for Batt-Doyle to run through, easing the amount of energy she needed to expend. 

Nicholson ran the first 17-kilometres out in front, starting outside the MCG around Albert Park Lake and then finished at the bottom of St Kilda, where he ran back to the ‘G to cheer Batt-Doyle over the line. 

“She was insane and not even tired at 17k, when I pulled out, I guess that’s why she’s an Olympian,” said Nicholson. 

After Nicholson pulled out, another pacer took the Olympian to the 30km mark before she was left with her training partner to the end, finishing the 42.2km event in record time, impressing herself along the way. 

“At about 40km, I was still feeling good, and I started to cry, I couldn’t believe I was going to finish the marathon, I was over the moon, I couldn’t believe how good I felt,” she said. 

The 2020 Olympian finished in eighth place in both the 5000 and 10000 metre events at this year’s Commonwealth Games in England, topping off her year with her marathon, she praised her 21-year-old pacer. 

“Thank-you to Luke for all the work he did out front,” she said. 

For Nicholson, the event was a truly memorable one, as an elite pacer he was treated to free Nike kit and access to exclusive elite runner rooms to mingle with Olympians and elite runners before and after the race. 

The San Remo local and former Newhaven College school captain was extremely grateful for the experience. 

“It was an unbelievable effort from Izzi and I’m so honoured to be a part of it, a truly memorable experience and one I’ll never forget,” he said.

He also gave his thanks to those that have helped him along the way. 

“I would like to thank my family for their ongoing support with my running journey, bringing me up to races and supporting me on the sidelines. Paul Van-Cuylenburg, a guy I went to school with; for giving me drinks and gels on course,”

“Tim Crosbie, the event director for the opportunity to pace, my physio Micheal O’Connor for his ongoing advice and support and massager Tim Tracy.

“I would also like to thank the 24/7 gym in San Remo for sponsoring me, believing in me and giving me access to the gym facilities in order to improve my running,” 
“And finally, my parkrun family who constantly cheer me on at Phillip Island Parkrun every Saturday morning. Regardless of ability, each of you inspires me to try my best and give 100 per cent so thank you.” 
Nicholson is an exceptionally driven runner with a real passion for the sport and looks forward to building from this experience in the summer. 
“I now look forward to the summer track season and aiming for a national qualifying time in the 5k,” he said.