Pillay and team earn gold at world relays
Nothing could have wiped off the smile on Lythe Pilly's face when he and his national relay teammates landed from a successful World Athletics (WA) Relay Championships held in China on May 10 and 11.
Pillay and Team SA were welcomed at OR Tambo International Airport on May 14 by throngs of jubilant fans after SA won two gold medals and a bronze to finish the competition top of the medals table.
SA was voted the best team at the event after the men's 4x100m and 4x400m clinched the gold, while the women's 4x400m received a bronze. The three teams, including the 4x400m mixed team, qualified for September's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The women's 4x400m set a new national record in the final on May 11 after Zeney van der Walt anchored the quartet to a new best of 03:24.48, capping off a successful championship for SA.
Influence
After anchoring SA to a silver medal with a blistering final leg at last year's relays champs in the Bahamas, Pillay highlighted the depth in the 400m in the country as a result of their success in China.
'We are in a healthy state where we aren't relying on one or two guys. We are at a point where we can swap an entire team in and out and not lose much in time and performance,' he said.
The 22-year-old said the victory motivated him and his teammates, national 400m champion Zakithi Nene, training partner Leendert Koekemoer, Mthi Mthimkhulu, Udeme Okon and Gardeo Isaacs, who won the national 400m title in 2019.
Also Read: Consistency is Pillay's priority this season
'With this depth, we can distribute it to the mixed relay team as well. For me, the chemistry is immaculate. The young guys and seniors coming together to kill it created a refreshing environment. It gives me more motivation to want to contribute to the team.'
Having struggled for form last season, the former national 400m champ is back to his best. His influence as a senior on the team was crucial in guiding youngsters like Koekemoer, who ran a blistering third leg to give SA an advantage in the final.
'I've always seen what Leendert can do. Seeing him show the world what he's capable of on a platform like the world relays was inspiring. I had goosebumps seeing him in the final.
'He's still a junior, and being put in that hectic leg, he couldn't have run it better. He's only going to get better,' Pillay said.
Tokyo
Although Pillay will compete in the world championships with the relay team, he will attempt to qualify individually for the one-lap dash.
He opened his season with a 44.97 at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix before attending two Diamond League meetings in China. He clocked 45.28 in Xiamen on April 26 and was seventh in Shaoxing/Keqiao in 45.39.
He will compete in Rabat, Morocco, on May 25, and is adamant he will break the 44.85 set by the WA to qualify for the individual event.
'I'm hopeful things will come right. I have a lot of faith and patience at this point. It's all part of the journey.'
Also Read: WATCH: Pillay on course to defend title at nationals
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