Hollywood Athletics Club announces strong team for Two Oceans Marathon

Among the standout athletes on the team are three Olympians, including Irvette Van Zyl, Cian Oldknow, and Stephen Mokoka, as well as notable additions like Loveness Madziva, Makhosi Mhlongo, and Tsepo Ramashamole.

Oldknow, fresh off her qualification for the Olympic Games marathon in Seville, eagerly anticipates competing in the 21.1km half-marathon as part of the esteemed purple team.  

"I think it's an exciting opportunity to test myself a little bit. I know it's quite a hyped up race in the running community in South Africa – it's quite a prestigious race," said Oldknow.

"So I think for me that makes it quite an important race to really race hard and see how well I can do, but we are trying to get in marathon training and stuff, which needs to be the focus at the moment.

"I would love to have a done more than the half-marathon, but I will use it as well as I can for [Olympic preparations]."

Oldknow is relishing the challenge of the route, which is renowned as one of the nation's most demanding due to its many inclines.

"I definitely think it plays in my favour. It's not very flat here, so most of the races we have been doing regularly, I think I can run quite well on a hilly course [because] I know how to run through it and I'll do my best," she stated.

READ: Irvette van Zyl has score to settle at Two Oceans Ultra-Marathon