TOP South African athlete Stephen Mokoka has temporarily switched from road running to track to intensify his final preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
Mokoka, pictured, is one of the three big names who have confirmed their participation in the Yellow Pages series in Stellenbosch tomorrow night.
The other two stars who will be in action in the event are 2009 World Student Games 10000m gold medallist Sibabalwe Mzazi and Elroy Gelant.
The trio are chasing 13 minutes 20 seconds, which is a qualification time for the London Olympics in which Mokoka has already qualified in the marathon event.
"I have decided to focus on track events between now and June to improve my speed as part of the preparations for the Olympics," Mokoka said.
"There are no plans to do any track event at the Olympics, even if I qualify.
"I have no doubt we will break the 13.20 mark with Mzazi and Elroy competing."
Some of the other South Africans who have qualified for the Olympics marathon are Lusapho April, Coolboy Ngamole and Hendrick Ramaala.
Ramaala is hoping to run another marathon in Europe or in the United States next month where he intends to run under 2hr:10min to top the list of qualifiers.
Athletics South Africa have secured the services of two Kenyan runners as pace-setters in tomorrow's event to help Mokoka and company work on their pace.
The Kenyans are in the country for the African cross-country championships, which took place in the Western Cape yesterday.
Mokoka turns up the pace with track training
TOP South African athlete Stephen Mokoka has temporarily switched from road running to track to intensify his final preparations for the 2012 London Olympics.
Mokoka, pictured, is one of the three big names who have confirmed their participation in the Yellow Pages series in Stellenbosch tomorrow night.
The other two stars who will be in action in the event are 2009 World Student Games 10000m gold medallist Sibabalwe Mzazi and Elroy Gelant.
The trio are chasing 13 minutes 20 seconds, which is a qualification time for the London Olympics in which Mokoka has already qualified in the marathon event.
"I have decided to focus on track events between now and June to improve my speed as part of the preparations for the Olympics," Mokoka said.
"There are no plans to do any track event at the Olympics, even if I qualify.
"I have no doubt we will break the 13.20 mark with Mzazi and Elroy competing."
Some of the other South Africans who have qualified for the Olympics marathon are Lusapho April, Coolboy Ngamole and Hendrick Ramaala.
Ramaala is hoping to run another marathon in Europe or in the United States next month where he intends to run under 2hr:10min to top the list of qualifiers.
Athletics South Africa have secured the services of two Kenyan runners as pace-setters in tomorrow's event to help Mokoka and company work on their pace.
The Kenyans are in the country for the African cross-country championships, which took place in the Western Cape yesterday.
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