Andy Todd

Andrew Todd was a British sprinter who competed in the 400 metres and the 400 metres hurdles. Todd was a two-time English Schools’ champion, winning the high hurdles title in 1965 and the 440 yards title in 1967. He also won the 1966 AAA Junior 110 metres hurdles and the 1969 British Universities 400 metres hurdles.

Todd was a reserve for the 4 × 400 metres relay at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics but ultimately did not compete in the race. He was nominated as a travelling reserve for the 400m hurdles (not to compete unless one of the others was injured) and as a full member of the 4 × 400 metres relay team. He had a back strain before he left for Mexico which would have excluded him from the 400m hurdles but he cleared himself as fit for the 4 × 400 metres relay although he was not risked for the race.

At the 1969 European Games in Greece Todd won bronze in the 400 metres hurdles with a time of 50.38 seconds. Later the same year he went on to run under 50 seconds, a record for a Sussex athlete that stood until 2013. Todd never won a senior AAAs title but was runner-up to John Sherwood in both 1967 (440 yards hurdles) and 1969 (400 metres hurdles). He was also third in the 120 yards hurdles in 1967. Injury forced Todd to retire from athletics when he was just 24, with him working in banking in Edinburgh for most of his life.