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Cian Oldknow set for comeback as Team SA gears up for World Cross Country Champs

Adnaan MohamedCross Country, NewsLeave a Comment on Cian Oldknow set for comeback as Team SA gears up for World Cross Country Champs
By Adnaan Mohamed

Cian Oldknow is back on the start line as Team South Africa prepares to tackle the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday.

After an injury- and illness-disrupted 2025 season, the Olympian’s is primed for a return to action on the world stage.

Oldknow is part of a strong senior women’s squad contesting the demanding 10km, headlined by Glenrose Xaba, Cacisile Sosibo, Kyla Jacobs, Karabo Mailula and Zanele Maisa.

For Oldknow, Tallahassee represents the first competitive stride back after a year spent battling setbacks rather than chasing finish tapes. The Johannesburg-based athlete burst onto the marathon scene in 2024, winning three races over 42.2km, qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games and finishing as South Africa’s top marathoner ahead of Irvette van Zyl and Gerda Steyn. Momentum stalled in 2025, but not belief.

“This will be my first race back after quite a difficult year in 2025, so I’m hoping to start on a positive note,” said Oldknow.

“I really enjoy wearing the South African colours and take a lot of pride in representing my country. I know I’ll have to dig deep, even though I’m not in the best place yet, but I think we can take pride in what we do as a team.”

While the women’s squad gathers pace, the men’s team has been forced to adjust its rhythm. South Africa’s plan to field its strongest senior men’s outfit was disrupted when reigning SA 10km cross country champion Kabelo Mulaudzi was ruled out with injury. Mulaudzi, one of the form distance runners of recent seasons with three sub-28-minute 10km performances last year, will focus on rehabilitation ahead of 2026.

The men’s 10km team features Adriaan Wildschutt, Bennett Seloyi, Chris Mhlanga, Sanele Masondo and Musawenkosi Mnisi, with Jayde Roslee stepping in after the withdrawal of Mulaudzi.

Adriaan Wildschutt Photo: Team SA

“We can confirm that Mulaudzi is injured,” said ASA Cross Country Chairperson and Team Manager Jakes Jacobs.

“He is replaced by Jayde Roslee who finished in the top twenty in the junior race in Australia in 2023. He was the official reserve after his performance at the trials. The good thing is that Jayde is based in the US. So, he will represent the country on behalf of Kabelo.”

On the women’s side, national 10km champion Glenrose Xaba returns to the World Cross Country Championships for the first time since stepping up to the marathon. Fresh off a sixth-place finish at the Valencia Marathon, Xaba is aiming to better her 32nd-place showing in Serbia two years ago, and she believes the legs are ready.

“I did not train that much because I was already fit,” said Xaba.

“So, I rested and spent the rest of December polishing up because you can’t just come from a marathon and jump into another training programme. I will do my best to go with the East Africans because it’s something that I’m used to doing. I just want to improve and finish very strong. I’m feeling very good. No injury. I just want to do my best.”

With a 28-member squad spread across senior, junior and relay events, Team South Africa arrives in Florida with depth, resilience and runners eager to test themselves against the world’s best.

TEAM SA – WORLD CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tallahassee, Florida | 10 January 2026

Senior men (10km)

  • Adriaan Wildschutt
  • Bennett Seloyi
  • Sanele Masondo
  • Chris Mhlanga
  • Musawenkosi Mnisi
  • Jayde Roslee (replacement)

Senior women (10km)

  • Glenrose Xaba
  • Karabo Mailula
  • Cacisile Sosibo
  • Kyla Jacobs
  • Cian Oldknow
  • Zanele Maisa

Senior mixed relay (4x2km)

  • Karabo More
  • Carina Viljoen
  • Luan Munnik
  • Christopher Swart

Junior men (8km)

  • Anele Matsoso
  • Tshepang Tshivhula
  • Beautin van der Westhuizen
  • Olerato Mosiloane
  • Benkosi Maqwara
  • Junior Noah

Junior women (6km)

  • Ithuteng Khiba
  • Lara Stander
  • Lara van der Merwe
  • Andrea Steynberg
  • Omaatla Dikao
  • Leandri Pretorius

Featured images: Michael Scott, TEAM SA

Lythe Proud to Podium with Wayde at World Champs

Adnaan MohamedFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Lythe Proud to Podium with Wayde at World Champs

By Adnaan Mohamed

Lythe Pillay was only 12 years old when Wayde van Niekerk stunned the world at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016 setting a new record 400m of 43.03. Now, the boy who once sat wide-eyed in front of the TV is sprinting alongside his idol, and winning medals with him.

South Africa’s 4x400m relay team of Pillay, Udeme Okon, Zakithi Nene and Van Niekerk snatched bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, clocking 2:57.83 in pouring rain.

But for Lythe, the medal was more than bronze. It was a childhood dream realised.

“It was a huge honour winning a medal with my childhood hero Wayde van Niekerk in the 4x400m relay with Team SA at the World Champ,” Lythe revealed to Modern Athlete with the impressive bronze medal dangling from his neck at the VIP tent at the finish of a Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on Heritage Day.

Just a couple of days after returning from the global showpiece in Japan, the 22-year-old from Benoni was at the sold-out event which drew 14,400 participants to support his girlfriend who participated as one of the Boxer Athletic Club elite athlete contingent.

“I enjoy all sports, and it was awesome just coming out supporting my girlfriend and seeing a sport from a different crowd and a different perspective.

“I could just admire the work other athletes put in themselves. I can’t run far to save my life. So I marvel at all the athletes that turned out today. It’s a great vibe seeing the runners sharing their experiences with each other. I am just glad to be part of it all.”

But Pillay’s story circles back to Van Niekerk. He still remembers watching in awe as a grade 1 schoolboy when the South African stunned the world in Rio.

“It’s crazy because I always said I’m here because of Wayde. I saw the Olympics live from home. When I saw the line-up I thought the Americans will take it as per usual.

“And all of a sudden I see this guy from Bloemfontein, South Africa breaking the World 400m record. Seeing that made me believe that perhaps I can do it too.”

Pillay believes Van Niekerk’s achievement lit the fuse for a new wave of 400m talent.

“South Africa now has more sub-45 runners than ever before. So there has been massive growth. The word I like to use is inflation.

“I’m honoured to be part of that movement and to be able to get a medal with Wayde.

“We have great athletes now and it’s also a great feeling. I could be mistaken but Team SA had the youngest team in the field and it gives us hope and inspires us to know that once Wayde retires, we will still be in a good space.”

Now, with seniors like Van Niekerk alongside emerging stars such as Zakithi Nene and Gardeo Isaacs, Pillay believes the 400m is in safe hands.

“I have now transitioned from a junior into senior ranks. We now have a very nice steam of senior and junior athletes. We are in a very healthy place and I am a firm believer that a lot of us are here because of what Wayde did.”

For Pillay, Van Niekerk is more than a teammate. He is proof that South African sprinters can take on the world and win.

How Team SA Performed at The Paralympics on Wednesday

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on How Team SA Performed at The Paralympics on Wednesday

The Paralympic classification system can be tricky, and that was clear when Mpumelelo Mhlongo broke the world record in the T44 long jump at the Stade de France but still finished in fifth place. Mhlongo, who already held the world record at 7.07m, competed against athletes in the T62 and T64 classes. Mhlongo improved his own record to 7.12m.

On Wednesday, Team South Africa secured two more bronze medals at the 2024 Paralympics. Pieter du Preez, in the men’s H1 individual cycling time trial, and the wheelchair tennis quad doubles team of Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole, both came through in style to bring Team SA’s total medal count to four.

WHEELCHAIR TENNIS
Men’s Quad Doubles – BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Team SA’s doubles duo, Donald Ramphadi and Lucas Sithole, defeated their Brazilian competitors in three sets (6–2; 4–6; [10]–[8]) to win South Africa’s fourth medal — a bronze — finishing in third position overall.

PARA CYCLING ROAD
Men’s Individual Time Trial – H1 (FINAL)
Team SA’s Pieter du Preez secured South Africa’s third medal — a bronze — after finishing in third position.

PARA SWIMMING
Women’s 100m Freestyle – S12 – Heats
Team SA’s Alani Ferreira finished eighth in her morning heat. Unfortunately, her time was outside of the top eight fastest finishers, which would have qualified her for the final.

Men’s 50m Freestyle – S7 – Heats
Team SA’s Christian Sadie finished seventh in the evening final, setting a new African record. Christian qualified for the final after placing fourth in his morning heat with one of the eight fastest times.

PARA EQUESTRIAN
Individual Event – Grade IV (FINAL)
Team SA’s Philippa Johnson-Dwyer finished the competition in 14th position.

PARA ATHLETICS
Men’s Shot Put – F46 – FINAL
Team SA’s Kerwin Noemdo concluded the competition in fifth position.

Men’s Long Jump – T64 – FINAL
Team SA’s Mpumelelo Mhlongo set a new T44 World Record with a jump of 7.12m, placing him fifth in the T64 competition.

Women’s 100m – T37 – Round 1 Heats
Team SA’s Sheryl James finished third in her heat, earning automatic qualification for the Thursday morning final

Not-so-delusional Maseti set to break new ground for SA cycling in Paris

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Not-so-delusional Maseti set to break new ground for SA cycling in Paris

By Karien Jonckheere

Miyanda Maseti wants to be an Olympic champion.

She already knew that when, as a plucky seven-year-old, she watched two-time Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya on TV.

“If somebody told me then that I would be an Olympian, I would’ve accepted it way easy,” reckoned Maseti with a laugh. “I was a delusional seven-year-old so I would’ve been like ‘I already knew that’.”

Sure enough, 11 years later, the BMX star’s name was among those announced as part of Team South Africa heading to the Paris Olympic Games next month.

“I guess seven-year-old me wasn’t so delusional,” she added.

Maseti will become the first South African woman to represent the country in BMX racing at the Olympic Games since the sport was added to the programme in 2008.

“I’m not even going to lie to you, I think I’m more nervous than excited,” she admitted from her training base in the Netherlands, where she will stay until the start of the Games. “This is the Olympics and I need to show why I’ve made it there.”

While the dream of becoming Olympic champion may be a more realistic one for the next Games in 2028, Maseti is determined to impress in the French capital. “My goal in Paris is to do my best and be my best while I’m there,” she explained. “To achieve this goal I need to get myself in the right place to compete at my best ability.

“In order to be good at BMX it takes effort, time, consistency and fun. You will only want to get better if you’re enjoying it.”

Fun it’s certainly been for Maseti, having first climbed on a bike at the age of four because her brother was riding – and eventually racing against boys to make sure she continued to improve.

“I love how fun it is to learn a new skill,” explained the six-time national champion. “I love how much joy it brings. I love the intensity. I love the confidence it gives and I love the lessons it teaches.

“I wish that people knew that BMX isn’t as harmful as people think. Everyone is so afraid to fall, but it’s a part of life. Why not fall, doing something you enjoy?”

Catch Maseti on 1 and 2 August when she’ll be in action at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium in Paris.