Tick for Cross | Buchanan Eyes Third Australian Cross Country Title
Published Tue 23 Aug 2022
Andrew "Andy" Buchanan would be a popular pick for the unofficial title Australia’s nicest athlete, but as far as official titles go he is a two-time Australian Cross Country champion, and he is chasing win number three this weekend in South Australia.
Fresh off his Australian debut in the marathon at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, it’s little surprise that the Buchanan is quickly becoming a figure that strikes a chord with the public. There are no visible attributes that distinguish the 31-year-old from his career as a wiry secondary school teacher, but that’s not to mistake him for the common man – he is certainly unique, or in 2022 terms, built different.
Back-to-back champion from 2017-2018 before silver in 2019, Buchanan’s cross country prowess stems from the humble roots of Bendigo in regional Victoria, nourished by running-crazy parents and eventually coach Scott Westcott.
“Both my parents are marathon runners who have done all six of the majors. As a kid our family holidays were Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, or Hobart because they wanted to do the marathons. I honestly thought that was a normal family holiday, to do the marathon and then spend the week there. It took me a while to realise that my family was a little bit different,” Buchanan says.
“Growing up here in Bendigo, my runs have always been through the bush on uneven trail and terrain. Some people really hide from that tough running but I thrive on it, and I have made my name on being a cross country runner.”
Those who have crossed paths with Buchanan are quick to affirm that the name is synonymous with grit and guts rather than a gift, with the industrious kid from Colac taking years to forge his path to the top – all but confirmed by his green and gold tracksuit and a recent Facebook memory.
“The progress was very gradual but I saw improvements all the time; some people think I came from nowhere on the national scene. I had a Facebook memory from 10-years ago of me coming 20th at national cross country and I remember being over the moon reading the comments. It’s funny to think how things have changed, I thought that was as good as I was going to get,” Buchanan says.
If he wasn’t so genuine, it would be easy to call Buchanan’s bluff as a tough-guy who proclaims to love the very things that his rivals hate – but the boy from the bush is as happy as a pig in mud when it comes to the niche craft of cross country running.
“I love it! You don’t look at the watch, it’s very pure and it’s just racing. It’s you against the course in a way and it’s always different,” Buchanan says.
“I am going over there to try and win but also to enjoy a good cross country race. It’s a strong field which is great to see and the prize money is awesome. I feel like there are no expectations on me coming off a marathon but obviously I will put my best foot forward to win.”
A successful 2022 has witnessed Buchanan tick off many of the items on his wish list, with a third Australian title and an Athletics Victoria premiership with his beloved Bendigo Bats remaining, before the hard-nosed athlete turns his attention to the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst.
“Everything is going to be geared toward the world cross country trials and making that team. You hear people talk about world cross and how it’s such an iconic race, for it to be in Australia is a big deal and I want to be a part of it,” Buchanan says.
A training camp at Saint Moritz alongside Australia’s premier marathoners prior to the Commonwealth Games gave Buchanan an insight into life as a full-time athlete, but the endurance machine was quick to resume normality as Mr Buchanan at Bendigo South East College upon returning from “the top of the world”.
“It’s such a good job and I would really struggle to be a full-time runner. I love running but I couldn’t wake up, run, and then come home and just scroll through social media. There are definitely times where I sacrifice a nice eight-hour sleep or am tired going to training, but I make these decisions so I try not to complain about them,” Buchanan says.
The Australian Cross Country Championships will be held in Oakbank on August 27, with more information about the event to be found HERE.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 23/8/2022
