Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 149 Feb. 2022 | Page 22

ADVERTORIAL

Podiums , PBs , Parry & Partners

Catch up on the news from the Murray & Roberts Running Club .

Carina and Cian impress every time

In the last few weeks , Cian Oldknow and Carina Viljoen have put the ‘ black and yellow ’ on top of podiums everywhere .

At the Cape Milers Summer Series , on Cape Town ’ s Sea Point track , the women ’ s 3000m race was a barnstormer , with Carina Viljoen ( 9:20:67 ) Kyla Jacobs ( 9:28.93 ) and Oldknow ( 9:40:21 ) taking the top three steps on the podium . Viljoen and Jacobs also scored top points on the World Athletics table .

The 24-year-old Viljoen , who earned All-American honours for the Arkansas Razorbacks while majoring in accounting at the University of Arkansas , was also 11th in 4:48 over the metric mile distance at the David Hemery Indoor Invitational in Boston . With her best of 4:13 set three years ago , there is obviously a lot more there , and with her campaigning in the
US for the next few months , she ’ s bound to get close to that again . Interestingly , fellow South Africans Christine Kalmer and Dominique Scott-Efurd also ran to fame out of Fayetteville .
Oldknow , who has set 17 personal bests in the last 15 months over distances from 1500m to the half marathon , has now clocked an impressive 16:40 over 5000m at altitude , which bodes well for her at coastal level . She is the national 4km cross country champion , and is coached by George Bradley . As she says , “ You take things day by day , small steps , keep trying to pour in the good stuff , and one day you look back and you see how far you ’ ve really come .” She certainly has … and quickly too .
Cian Oldknow

Parry Now in Black and Yellow

Celebrated trainer to Olympians , national champions and many top athletes , as well as the official Comrades Marathon Coach , Lindsey Parry has joined the Murray & Roberts Running Club as a member .
Carina Viljoen

The Sport Science and Biokinetics major says , “ I have been around the black and yellow club virtually from the start , and many of my current personal clients and a good percentage of my ‘ elites ’ also run for the squad . I ’ ve always enjoyed dealing with the management of the club , and appreciate how they have fostered a close-knit family feeling within an institution that provides employment for top athletes .”

“ I have resisted running for a corporate club until now , largely because I wanted to maintain independence of who I coach and the perception of favouring certain clubs and / or athletes . However , chairman Ed Jardim , whom I often train with , and his management team impressed me . Their willingness to allow me the freedom to keep helping other runners and the welcome that I experienced as a non-member made it an easy switch to get more involved with the club .”
Jardim says , “ We are thrilled that someone as successful and dedicated to the sport as Lindsey has joined our team . He has also very kindly donated his coaching expertise to some of our members who
would not ordinarily have been able to afford the luxury , and we believe this is a match made in ( running ) heaven . We are thrilled to call him a member .”
Parry , who is a national coach , looks after several Murray & Roberts athletes , most notably Philani Buthelezi , Sibusiso Nzima , Benedict Moeng and Sithembiso Mqele , and Parry says he is looking forward to a great 2022 for them . “ Philani and Sibusiso are both focusing on the marathon distance for 2022 and we are working hard to qualify for the World Champs or Commonwealth Games . Philani , who has improved to 2:13 , is also really determined to get back his national 10,000m crown .”
Parry is a 2:45 marathoner , as well as a Comrades and Two Oceans silver medallist , and would like to be remembered like this : “ I hope that I would have achieved in the development space of sport and created more opportunities for women and people of colour to achieve . It ’ s not about how good I or anyone else is as a coach , it ’ s about working with people to provide the opportunities that will help them prosper and succeed .”
Lindsey Parry
Images : Courtesy Eden Mile , IlmaStockton and Murray & Roberts Running Club
22 ISSUE 149 | www . modernathlete . co . za