SA athletics rising star Lythe Pillay excited for 2023 season

By Charles Baloyi
7th April 2023

The feeling of bagging a silver medal at his first senior event has not yet sunk in for rising 400m star Lythe Pillay, but he's ready to make his mark in the top ranks.

Pillay finished behind his idol Wayde Van Niekerk (44.17), clocking 44.80 seconds to secure second at the recent SA Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom.

The 20-year-old graduated after winning gold as a junior at the Puk MacArthur Stadium last year, but racing against top athletes like Van Niekerk, Zakhithi Nene, and Gardeo Isaacs at senior level has inspired him.

"I feel like, since I have been alive, that is probably the most competitive 400m I have ever seen in South Africa. As one athlete performs, the rest of us are driven to push harder," Pillay told SABC Sport.

"We help each other to run faster and pull each other, and it shows that we have potential in the 4 x 400m relay. I am excited to see what we can do as a country in the 400m.

"I am inspired and driven by Wayde, and the other senior athletes. They have helped to inspire and push me in training, and I look forward to competing against and with them."

Having won 400m gold at the Under-20 World Championships in Cali, Colombia in 2020, Pillay hopes will now look to qualify for his maiden World Senior Championships in Budapest, Hungary, later this year, with qualifying standards set at 45.00 seconds.

"My dream is to run with Wayde in the relay. I think SA stands a good chance of winning a medal looking at the guys. We proved at our first meeting that we can run a faster time.

"I am looking forward to a great season and excited to race with other good athletes. I am cool, excited, and ready."

Van Niekerk, who last week claimed his first national title since 2016, said the future of the 400m event is in good hands with youngsters like Pillay coming through as he eyes a successful 4 x 400m relay event in Budapest.

"If I thought racing the nationals was easy, I would not have ran like that against him [Pillay] in the final. I have a lot of respect for him and the others," said the 400m world record holder.

"I am excited and finally I can look at a possible 4 x 400m at the World Championships. We finally have guys that can challenge the best in the world in Pillay, Isaacs, and Nene. Let’s see how it goes."