'I love cross country' - Oldknow wins maiden SA 10km Cross Country crown as Mulaudzi defends his title

Almost four weeks to the day after finishing as the first South African at the Paris Olympic marathon (2:30:29), Cian Oldknow won her maiden Athletics South Africa (ASA) Senior Women's 10km Cross Country title. Taking on defending champion Karabo Mailula and the dangerous Cacisile Sosibo, the 27-year-old used her marathon strength to strangle her opponents as she wound up the pace lap after on the 2km looped course at the Vaal University of Technology's Isak Steyl Stadium.

"I'm feeling really good. I had such a good race. I was a little bit nervous because I hadn't done cross country in about a year and I know it's completely different to road. So I wasn't sure where my speed would be. Cross country is rhythm-breaking which is completely different to running a marathon. I knew that Karabo and Cacisile are in good shape this year, so it was going to be quite a tough race. But I went in hungry and came out very happy," she explained.

Elation as Oldknow wins her very first SA Senior Women's 10km title. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

The victory which she secured in 32:43, ahead Sosibo (33:20) and Mailula (33:51),was the Olympian's second SA title of the year after she won the Durban International Marathon in April in 2:29:46 - an event which doubled as the 42,2km national championships. But what made yesterday's victory all the more special for the Central Gauteng Athletics top runner is that cross country is a discipline that she first experienced as sub-youth. Oldknow recalls her first national cross country championships experience fondly saying the success she enjoys today is founded on the years she spent running cross country.

"The first time I came to SA Cross Country champs I was in Grade 5. I was eleven years old. I had very short hair and I placed 70th or 90th. I was way at the back. So seeing the little girls run around today really just takes me back to where I began. I love cross country and being out here and just being a part of this vibe. SA Cross Country is so big because there are so many age groups from the kids to the adults. It's nice to see how competitive it is."

Mulaudzi shaking off the attentions of Seloyi and Mhlanga en route to defending his title. Photo Credit: Tumelo Mabua.

In the men's race Kabelo Mulaudzi made it two Senior Men's 10km Cross Country gold medals in as many years as his Central Gauteng Athletics swept the podium. In fact such was CGA's dominance in the senior 10km races that they won all but one medal - the bronze earned by Athletics Gauteng North's Mailula in the women's race. Mulaudzi ran a calculated race to take line honours in 28:01 as Bennet Seloyi was second in 28:21 and Chris Mhlanga finished in third place (28:37).