World Record Beacroft, #2 Aussie All-time McMillen

12 December 2025

NSW 10k Walks: World Record for Beacroft and #2 Aussie All-time for McMillen

The NSW halcyon race-walking days of the 90s could be ready for return following two world class race walking performances last night at the NSW 10,000m Race Walking Championships at Homebush. Heading the performances were teenager Isaac Beacroft who broke the World U20 Record, while in the women’s Lizzy McMillen clocked the second fastest time in Australian history and the fastest by an Aussie for 35-years.

MEN 10,000M WALK

In cool weather with light winds, excellent conditions for an endurance event, 18-years-old Isaac Beacroft and dual Olympian Declan Tingay, broke away from the gun. Over the next 8km Tingay didn’t move from Beacroft’s tail.

After settling into laps of 90s to 92, on lap 21, at about 8km, Beacroft stepped it up slightly, with a 90 seconds lap, but it would be too much for Tingay who produced a 94 seconds lap. Over the next three laps Beacroft put five seconds a lap into the lead over Tingay. At the bell, Beacroft knew the world junior record was easily within his grasp, but he also now had his sight on the Australian open record, held by Declan Tingay. On the last lap Beacroft nailed his fastest time of the 25-lap race – 89.11 seconds, to finish in a record shattering time of 38:02.68 – one second under Tingary’s National open and allcomers record.

His fast start in the race was not planned.

“I was meant to go a lot slower, more cautionary, so I didn't blow up in the back end,” Beacroft recalled. “I'll be honest, for a minute there in the middle 5k I was feeling like ‘oh shit I've completely blown it out here’ but I just tried to really say oh well I did it myself so I'm gonna have to grit my teeth here and go for it.”

But as the splits revealed Beacroft was able to maintain the demanding pace and eventually wore down Tingay who could not match his consistency.

Another key achievement for Beacroft was going well under the standard for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games (38:50 minutes). It was just step one towards selection as he will now need to secure a team berth at the trials in January in Canberra.

Beacroft who surpassed Declan Tingay’s national record paid tribute to him.

“He's been phenomenal and been the number one for the past five to six years. He's been the guy that you always look up too on those training camps. I've always been lucky enough to be out there with him. He’s been the benchmark who we've been working towards.”

Going into the event Isaac Beacroft was in a dilemma. Should he be bold enough to inform NSW Athletics he was going for the record as they would need to put some conditions in place.

“I was thinking about it for a while. There's no harm in asking. I would hate to have the record not ratified.”

In support of the potential record, the race needed three silver/gold level race walking judges and therefore needed to fly in a judge from Queensland and Victoria to ensure the judging panel was sufficient to have the record ratified.

There were a host of other qualifiers in the race:

Commonwealth Games (38:50): Isaac Beacroft (38:02.68), Declan Tingay VIC (38:23.06), Kyle Swan VIC (38:35.55)

World U20 Championships 43:30: Isaac Beacroft (38:02.68), Owen Toyne ACT 41:13.90

World Race Walking Teams Championship (U20 10km event): 43:00; Isaac Beacroft (38:02.68), Owen Toyne ACT 41:13.90

WOMEN 10,000M WALK

Conducted just after the men’s race, and the excite of a world record, the performance of Lizzy McMillen went under the radar, but was equally as stunning. Since sorting out some health issues, it has been a spectacular 12 months of performances from the norther beaches athlete who is studying Political Science, Criminology and Criminal Justice.

She arrived at these championships already with a solid PB of 43:00.01, but went on to blitz that clocking 42:15.68, defeating dual Olympian Bec Henderson by 40 second, She clocked a two minute PB time of 42:55.08.

McMillen’s time elevated her to number two in Australian history, and second only to Kerry Saxby-Junna.

McMillen, clocked the world leading time in 2025 and moved to #15 on the world all-time list.

She spoke about her race goal.

“I was chasing a Commonwealth Games qualifier, so we were just going for 43.50; so, to get that time was pretty impressive,” McMillen said.

“I felt really good beforehand and I knew like 142s would have been kind of where I wanted to be. So, when I went through the first 400 in like 139 or something, and I felt like it was pretty breezy. I was like, okay, so we kind of keep this pace going.”

With McMillen’s fast pace, she quickly broke away from Bec Henderson, 10 second ahead by one mile. McMillen was clocking 140s regularly, occasionally drifting to 143s.

Such was the early pace, she went through 5,000m in about 20:56, incredibly on track for sub-42. She did drift slightly clocking 21:20 for the second 5k.

“I just wanted to do a negative split; so there's definitely room for improvement towards the second half, especially the last two and a half K. I'd really like to be able to kick down.”

The next target is very clear for McMillen.

“We've got a couple of weeks until Supernova, which is the Commonwealth Games trials.”

McMillen’s time was also the fastest by an Aussie for 35-years and smashed the Australian allcomers record.

Other qualifiers from the race included:

Commonwealth Games (43:50): Lizzy McMillen (42:15.68), Bec Henderson (42:55.08)

World U20 Championships 49:20: Zoe Woods (48:39.65)

World Race Walking Teams Championship (U20 10km event): 50:00; Zoe Woods (48:39.65), Sienna Pitcher (49:49.59)

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Isaac Beacroft (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)