'I'm excited to see how we can work together' - Cian Oldknow targets top 5 at Sanlam Cape Town Marathon

After an incredible year during which she produced 2:25:08 on debut at the Sevilla Marathon 2024, Cian Oldknow has set her sights on improving further when she runs her first Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on Sunday 20 October. The time she clocked in Spain was the fastest marathon debut by a South African woman and the second fastest of all time behind Gerda Steyn's national record of 2:24:03. That wonderful performance in February was followed by a 2:29:46 clocking at the Durban International Marathon which incorporated with Athletics South Africa (ASA) Marathon Champions in April. The 28-year-old Hollywood Athletics Club also managed to book her ticket to take part in her maiden Olympic Games Paris, where she produced 2:30:29 to finish as the first South African.

"It was amazing! When you think of the Olympics, you think of this wonderful event. When I got there it was even better. I loved everything. You get there and are surrounded by amazing athletes that you have been looking up to in your life," she told #TheTopRunner. "Then you get to run with them. It was such an amazing experience and I took so much from it. I have learned a lot from it. One of the biggest things I learnt is that we are all human, we all get up there to chase our dreams. Each athlete is doing what they can and enjoy the experience," she said.

As part of her preparation for her Sanlam Cape Town Marathon debut, Oldknow won the Midmac Midvaal Marathon on 6 October in 2:43:38. Photo Credit: Midmac Midvaal Marathon.

Having fully recovered, Oldknow, who is trained by George Bradley, is ready for her first Cape Town Marathon where organisers have assembled a world class field of top runners as they chase the right to be named as Africa's first Marathon Major race. In the women's field, former world champion Mare Dibaba, who has a lifetime best of 2:19:52, leads the charge, with 2022 winner and course record holder (2:24:02) Meseret Dinke Meleka is also in the mix. Oldknow believes fast times will be on offer 

"I have full recovered from Paris Olympics. I'm not feeling any fatigue. Yeah, the preparation has been going as could be for Cape Town Marathon. I'm feeling good and strong. I have made a few track sessions and did good races in between. So I'm feeling good and confident." 

"I think Cape Town will be little different from Durban (International Marathon) as there will be a strong contingent of international runners. I think they will help us run a little bit faster. I'm hoping it's going to be smart run race and we just run a good pace instead running very hard. So I'm going to Cape Town a bit excited to see how we can work together," she added.

Oldknow, Xaba and Cacisile Sosibo working together during an ASA Championship race. They will aim to do the same at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. Photo Credit: ASA Media.

The reigning ASA 10km Cross Country Champion also revealed that she is excited to see Glenrose Xaba to make her marathon debut. Xaba has been in mercurial form this year and recently became the first South African to scoop the coveted SPAR Grand Prix since 2018. Organisers have made no secret of the fact that they hope that Oldknow and Xaba can work together to break Gerda Steyn's national record.

"I haven't spoken to her for now. But I'm really excited to see how she can do. She has run some amazing 10km races this year and she is an amazing Half-marathon athlete as well. So I'm curious and excited to see what she can do in the Marathon space. In terms of my own race, I'm not too sure as yet. We have to see what the weather will be like on race day. I would like to put myself in the mix to compete. If I can get into the top five or even a podium it would be amazing."