Zeney van der Walt targets 400m hurdles National record

Van der Walt has qualified for the World Championships in the 400m hurdles and 400m in emphatic style, but she is still hungry for more. 

She ran a Personal Best of 54.52 seconds to defend her title at the SA Nationals in Potchefstroom three weeks ago. 

The 22-year-old showed good form clocking 50.81 in the 400m to win the Athletics South Africa Grand Prix Continental Tour Challenger meeting in Tshwane last week.

But she sets her sights on breaking the 400m hurdles record of 53.74 set by Myrtle Bothma on 18 April 1985.

Van Walt told SABC Sport she is confident of breaking the 38-year-old long-standing record.

“Yes, that is my goal to break the SA record. But we are taking it step by step. I want to attempt to break the record this year. We are going for the National record. It is in our goal book. We do not know when we could break it, but hopefully soon,” said the athlete.

On Wednesday, the Athletics SA female athlete of the year winner will race in the Grand Prix series at the Germiston Stadium without worrying about running qualifying time.

She hopes to better her time in the 400m hurdles.

She says she did not expect to seal double qualification so soon.

“Well, I did not expect to run a faster time in the 400m so early in the season.

But I cannot wait to see what I can do in the hurdles after running such a fast time in the 400m.

With the National Championships being held early in the year, local sprinters are running fast times.

 It was warm in March, and I enjoyed myself and taking it easy when the season started, and surprised to qualify for both events in the early stages. 

I should remain consistent and have a good build-up for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, later this year,” Van der Walt told SABC Sport.

Most junior sprinters go through a dip in form when they graduate into the senior ranks, but it has been an incredible two years for Van der Walt in her journey.

She told the national broadcaster; she was surprised by her rise to the top of South African athletics.

“It is difficult for most athletes to move into the senior ranks.

But so far, I am handling the pressure well and taking things one step at a time, and I am not surprised with my growth,” added Van der Walt.