BENDIGO athlete Andy Buchanan marked his first World Cross-Country Championships with a thirty-third overall and fourth in the teams category of the elite men\u2019s 10-kilometre raced on Saturday in Bathurst.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old from Bendigo University Athletics Club ran a daunting course at Mount Panorama in a time of 31:38 as Australia took on African powers Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda for a share of team glory.<\/p>\n
Best placed of the Australian team was Ky Robinson who capped a return from Stanford in the United States to be 23rd to finish in 31:11.<\/p>\n
The race began in sweltering temperatures on Saturday evening before athletes then faced wind and rain.<\/p>\n
The four fastest in the six-man teams earned points for the teams\u2019 award.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s team of Robinson, Jack Rayner on 29th in 31:30, Brett Robinson in 31st with 31.36, and Buchanan 33rd in a time of 31:38 finished two points clear of South Africa.<\/p>\n
Placings of 40th and 51st by Rorey Hunter and Andre Waring capped a great run by the green and gold as Australia hosted the World XCR titles for the first time.<\/p>\n
Gold in the men\u2019s elite 10-kilometre went to Uganda\u2019s Jacob Kiplimo from Ethiopia\u2019s Berihu Aregawi and Uganda\u2019s Joshua Cheptegei.<\/p>\n
A multiple monthly winner in Bendigo\u2019s Sports Star of the Year awards, Buchanan was seventh in the marathon at last year\u2019s Birmingham Commonwealth Games.<\/p>\n
He also plays a key role as athletics coach for the Athlete Development Program at Bendigo South East Secondary College.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BENDIGO athlete Andy Buchanan marked his first World Cross-Country Championships with a thirty-third overall and fourth in the teams category of the elite men\u2019s 10-kilometre raced on Saturday in Bathurst. The 31-year-old from Bendigo University Athletics Club ran a daunting course at Mount Panorama in a time of 31:38 as Australia took on African powers […]<\/p>\n