Kaye posted a personal best time to emerge as the top female athlete in the Brooks Half-Marathon among the 25,000-strong crowd that braved chilly conditions on Sunday morning.

The 28-year-old’s run of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 15 seconds through Melbourne’s CBD and past many of the city’s iconic locations was enough to comfortably hold off Amanda Wilson, who finished in second place with a time of 1:22.42 over the 22 kilometres.

Kaye possessed a secret weapon leading into the race, with long-distance running legend Steve Moneghetti leading her training ahead of a planned full-marathon later in the year. 

“I haven’t done that time before, so I’m really happy,” Kaye said.

“I came fourth last year and was aiming for third. 

To do a personal best and take out the title is really great.”

Kaye works as a personal trainer at Fettle Fitness in Ballarat.