Cian Oldknow gearing up for world half-marathon championships

Having recently clinched victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban Summer 10km race with a Personal Best time of 32:17, Oldknow is determined to beat her current PB of 70:40 when she competes on the global stage.

Joining her in the 21km event will be fellow athletes Glenrose Xaba and Kesa Molotsane. Team SA is gearing up for the departure to Riga on September 27, and the championship event is scheduled to take place from September 29 to 1 October.

“I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming World Championships in Latvia, and I’m filled with excitement at the prospect of competing against some of the world’s top runners.

The Durban 10km race served as one of my final preparation races, and winning it has given me a tremendous boost in confidence. I’m feeling very optimistic about my performance in Riga.

With some additional training before heading to Riga, I’m eager to see how much I can improve my time. As for my placement in the World Champs, it’s uncertain, but my primary focus will be on achieving my personal best, especially given the flat course.

I’m hoping for favourable weather conditions to work in my favour, and my current game plan revolves around giving it my all,” shared Oldknow in an interview with SABC Sport.

Oldknow has achieved an impressive 22 personal best times in various distances over the past two years, spanning from 800m to the half-marathon, earning the nickname of Miss PB. And it seems there’s the potential for yet another PB in the making on the horizon in Latvia.

“After a less-than-satisfactory performance at the world cross-country championships in Australia earlier this year, I’m eager for a stronger showing in Latvia. This event marks my final competitive race for the year,” added Oldknow.