Andy Buchanan isn’t just heading to Tokyo to race: he’s going there to compete. The Australian marathon record holder will lead a six-strong team of marathoners at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, determined to prove he belongs not just in the field, but in the fight.
“I don’t just want to be known as someone who went to Valencia and ran really fast, and that was it,” Buchanan said. “I want to be competitive at these championship races.”
Buchanan clocked a stunning 2:06:22 in Valencia last December to rewrite the Australian record books, after making his Olympic debut in Paris with minimal preparation, finishing 45th off a late call-up. This time, he’s got both the form and the focus to make his mark.
“The experience I had at the Olympics just made running the marathon for Australia my number one priority,” he said. “The fact that it’s going to be hot in Tokyo works well for us; I want it to be as hot as possible.”
Buchanan will be joined by five teammates across the men’s and women’s marathons, forming one of the strongest squads Australia has sent to a global championships. Among them is Leanne Pompeani, whose sensational 2:24:53 debut in Nagoya earlier this year was the fastest ever by an Australian woman.
Queensland’s Tim Vincent, with a personal best of 2:09:40, also earns his first World Championships berth after consistent performances on the Japanese road circuit.
Liam Boudin (2:10:28), a Gold Coast-based lawyer, and Vanessa Wilson (2:28:34), a 42-year-old PE teacher, have been conditionally selected pending World Athletics quota availability. Both will don the green and gold for the first time if confirmed.
Australian half marathon record holder, Izzy Batt-Doyle, the fourth-fastest Australian female marathoner in history with her 2:22:59 in Valencia last year, adds further depth to the women’s team. A 5000m Olympian in Tokyo just four years ago, she returns with greater ambition and unfinished business, undecided if it will be on the track or the road.
“It’s great to know I have a guaranteed opportunity in Tokyo,” Batt-Doyle said.
“It’s a long way until I focus on that race obviously and for now I will see how fast I can run at 5000m and 10,000m, but to be selected on any Australian team is such an honour given the depth of women we have,”
Buchanan is the only one of Australia’s six marathoners from the Paris Olympics to be selected, with Pat Tiernan, Liam Adams, Jess Stenson, Genevieve Gregson (pregnancy) and Sinead Diver either qualified or not seeking selection.
The championship course will see athletes start and finish at Japan National Stadium, with two laps of a 13 kilometre circuit through Akihabara, Nihonbashi, Ginza and the Imperial Palace. A testing climb at 38-40km could make or break races, an element Buchanan relishes.
Australian Athletics General Manager – High Performance, Andrew Faichney, said the selected athletes represent both the past year’s breakthroughs and the future of Australian marathon running.
“This team reflects the growing depth and quality of Australian distance running. From record-breaking runs in recent times from the likes of Andy and Izzi, to the hard-earned breakthroughs by Leanne and Tim, each athlete has earned their place through performances that speak for themselves. We’re thrilled to see them take on the world in Tokyo,” Faichney said.
The women’s marathon takes place on the second day of the World Championships (14 September) followed by the men’s the following day. Both races are scheduled for 8:00am local time.
