Andy Buchanan (athletics) is heading from Bendigo to Birmingham as he makes his 2022 Commonwealth Games debut in the men’s marathon. A dual Australian 10km cross-country champion, Buchanan ran his first marathon in Hamburg in April 2022. The Bendigo Bats/Bendigo University Pride athlete finished in 15th place in 2:12:23, the equal 25th-fastest time in Australian history. Training under Rio 2016 Olympian Scott Westcott, Buchanan’s time would have secured a bronze medal at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, the event which saw Buchanan’s coach Westcott finish in fourth place. With years of road and cross-country experience under his belt, including a 5th-place finish at the 2021 Zatopek:10, Buchanan will look to make strides on his fastest marathon 5km split of 15.15 in Birmingham. Outside of his running career, Buchanan is a specialist athletics coach at Bendigo South East Secondary College’s Athlete Development Program and Run2PB Run Coaching.