BENDIGO athlete Andy Buchanan will chase a rare feat at this Saturday's running of the Australian 10km cross country championships in Kembla Grange.
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Buchanan is aiming for a championship hat-trick on a course where he first won the title in 2017.
The Bendigo University Athletics Club star will also be joined by two of Bendigo Region's young guns in Logan Tickell and Archie Reid racing many of Australia's best XCR athletes.
Buchanan said the purpose built course, near Wollongong, was far different to Queensland's Maleny Golf Club where he won a year ago.
"There's a lot of narrow trails and it's a fairly flat course at Kembla, although there is one short, but steep hill."
For Buchanan the focus is on his race, not so much his rivals.
"I cannot control how they run," he said of a duel in which athletes will run one lap of a 2km loop, and then two laps of a 4km loop.
"A goal will be to lift the pace a few times to try and gain a break."
Buchanan said the lead-up to this national XCR campaign had been slightly different.
"The past few months there have been less sessions, but at greater intensity," he said.
The reigning national champion is also rapt that Tickell and Reid have earned selection in Victoria's team.
Tickell is in the ADP distance running squad coached by Buchanan at Bendigo South East Secondary College in Flora Hill.
"It's our first year as athlete and coach," said Buchanan.
"Logan is a really determined athlete and has got what it takes to make it.
"His willingness to learn is fantastic."
At age 12, Logan Tickell will contest his first national XC championships and follows in the footsteps of his dad, Lucas.
A year 7 student at BSE, Logan put in a great run at the Victorian All Schools and in the XCR19 legs at Albert Park and Lake Wendouree.
He trains for athletics twice a week, and is also a keen basketballer.
"Cross country running is always challenging.
"Being coached by Andy has helped me improve," Tickell said of working on style and tactics.
His clubmate at South Bendigo AC, Archie Reid from Echuca will race in the under-20 8km contest at the nationals.
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