After delivering an exceptional performance in the 400m at the national championships on Saturday, Lythe Pillay wants further success. He wants to do his best time in the crucial 4x400m relay effort alongside Wayde van Niekerk.
Pillay’s remarkable time of 44.31 seconds places him as the second-fastest South African in the event and demonstrates the potential within the South African relay team.
The time Pillay set at the weekend would have been good enough for fifth at the recent Tokyo Olympics.
And if that was not impressive enough, he wrote an online accounting exam the very next morning for his second year Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Johannesburg.
The team is enthusiastic about qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics at the upcoming World Relays in the Bahamas.
The 21-year-old Pillay, a 2022 under-20 world champion, and teammates Zakithi Nene and Gardeo Isaacs, are supported by Van Niekerk’s experience and enthusiasm.
“All of us have bought into the relay,” said Pillay, TimesLive reported.
“Since last year’s championships, Wayde himself has pretty much been the most enthusiastic about the relays. For us, having someone like Wayde on our team, being enthusiastic, being optimistic, encouraging us to come together sort of adds a sense of hype.”
The combination of their best times suggests they could challenge the South African record and perform strongly on the international stage.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Lythe Pillay.
Image source: X
