Accurate as of 17th January 2025.
Few events in Australian athletics have been as elite as the women’s 800m, in recent years. It wasn’t long ago that Charlene Rendina’s old Australian record of 1.59.00 seemed just out of reach to stars such as the 2008 world 800m indoor champ, Tamsyn Lewis (Manou). Rendina’s old mark stood for a whopping 47 years.
© James Mowle/Athletics Australia
But come 2023, and stacked Australian domestic fields, fresh new talent and fierce competition to make major championship teams, has resulted in five women bettering Redina’s record. Led by Catriona Bisset, with a wall of talent right on her heels, including the teenage Olympic semi-finalist and 2024 Australian 800m champ Claudia Hollingsworth, 51 second 400m runner Bendere Oboya, 2022 Commonwealth Games 1500m bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell, and 3:59 1500m runner Sarah Billings.
It’s an exciting time for Australian middle distance running.
RT extends a sincere thanks to AA Statistician Paul Jenes, Fletcher McEwan, David Tarbotton and Lyndall Green for their work in compiling these rankings.
| 1:57.78 | 1 | Catriona Bisset | V | 010394 | 4 | London, GBR | 23 Jul 2023 |
| 1:58.40 | 2 | Claudia Hollingsworth | V | 120405 | 1 | Adelaide | 14 Apr 2024 |
| 1:58.48 | 3 | Abbey Caldwell | V | 030701 | 5 | Chorzow, POL | 16 Jul 2023 |
| 1:58.56 | 4 | Bendere Oboya | V | 170400 | 1 | Vienna, AUT | 22 Jul 2024 |
| 1:58.94 | 5 | Sarah Billings | V | 070398 | 3rA | Trier, AUT | 6 Sep 2024 |
| 1.59.0h | 6 | Charlene (Neighbour) Rendina | V | 181247 | 1 | Melbourne | 28 Feb 1976 |
| 1.59.21 | 7 | Tamsyn Lewis (Manou) | V | 200778 | 1 | Canberra | 15 Jan 2000 |
| 1:59.22 | 8 | Linden Hall | V | 290691 | 2 | Brisbane | 27 Mar 2021 |
| 1.59.73 | 9 | Margaret (Leaney) Crowley | V | 240567 | 2 | Durham, USA | 13 Jul 1996 |
| 1:59.89 | 10 | Georgia Griffith | V | 051296 | 8r1 | Madrid, ESP | 21 Jun 2024 |
| 1.59.92 | 11 | Madeleine Pape | V | 240284 | 2 | Sydney | 16 Feb 2008 |
| 1.59.93 | 12 | Judy (Amoore) Pollock | V | 250640 | 5s1 | Montreal, CAN | 14 Jul 1976 |
| 1:59.95 | 13 | Carley Thomas | N | 261200 | 1 | Lignano, ITA | 14 Jul 2023 |
| 1:59.99 | 14 | Jessica Hull | N | 221096 | 1 | Geneva, SUI | 22 Jun 2024 |
| 2:00.06 | 15 | Morgan Mitchell | V | 031094 | 5 | London, GBR | 21 Jul 2019 |
| 2.00.17 | 16 | Sharon Stewart | V | 170865 | 4 | Oslo,NOR | 6 Jul 1991 |
| 2.00.24 | 17 | Brittany McGowan | Q | 240491 | 1r1 | Gold Coast | 18 Feb 2018 |
| 2.00.32 | 18 | Susan Andrews | W | 260571 | 1 | Brisbane | 3 Sep 2000 |
| 2.00.50 | 19 | Heather (Wright) Barralet | Q | 160954 | 1 | Adelaide | 14 Mar 1984 |
| 2:00.50 | 20 | Ellie Sanford | V | 131197 | 2 | Brisbane | 2 Apr 2023 |
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