Leo
2005-2008

Andy Bayer grew up in Leo, Indiana, and started running cross country and track in the sixth grade. He qualified for the state finals for the first time during his junior year. After a coaching partnership with his cousin Dan Zimmerman, Andy improved dramatically, finishing sixth at the cross country state meet and winning the 3200 to win a state title in one of the closest finishes of all time.

Just shy of a walk on, Andy headed to IU to join its cross country and track teams. By Andy's sophomore year, he had become one of IU's top scorers, breaking the four minute mile, and holding records in the 1500 and the indoor 3000. At IU, Andy was a six-time Big Ten champion and 12 time All-American. In 2012, Andy won the NCAA National Championship in the 1500 in another photo finish. At the national championships that year, Andy was fourth in the 1500, just one spot shy of qualifying for the US Olympic team.

In the summer of 2013, Andy signed a contract to run professionally for Nike. That fall he married Chelsea Blanchard, also an IU runner, and they moved to Portland, Oregon. Andy began training with the Bowerman Track Club and Jerry Shumacher, who encouraged Andy to focus on the 3000m steeplechase. At the 2016 Olympic trials in a heartbreaking finish, Andy placed fourth, once again missing a spot on the Olympic team.

Andy and Chelsea returned to Bloomington in 2017 and Andy began training again with IU Coach Ron Helmer. Andy came in third in two straight US Championships, in 2019 qualifying to represent the USA at the World Games in Doha, Qatar. In the finals, Andy ran a personal best 8:12:47, a time that made him the seventh fastest American in the history of the event.

Andy’s last sub-four mile was during a solo workout on IU’s track in the summer of 2020 with his wife Chelsea and children Christina and Christopher taking his splits.