'I haven't peaked yet' - Nene gunning for SA title after 44.68 PB in Botswana

South African 400m specialist Zakithi Nene feels it's time for him to reap the rewards of the hard work he has been investing in his training. On Saturday 12 April, Nene produced a scintillating 44:68 lifetime best time over 400m during the Golden Grand Prix Inter Continental Meeting in Botswana.

He ended up finishing second to the home favourite Bayapo Ndori, who set the stadium alight with a superb 44:35, while reigning SA champion Lythe Pillay took third in 44.97. 27-year-old Nene managed to eclipse his previous best of 44:74 set three years ago in Zurich, Switzerland. By doing so he also managed to qualify for the World Athletics Championship scheduled to take place Tokyo, Japan in September. Speaking to #TheTopRunner, Nene says his preparations suggested that a fast time was coming and he is upbeat on how the season has started for him. 

Nene in action at the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix where he produced a new personal best 44.68 and secured qualification for the World Championships. Photo Credit: Zakhiti Nene.

"I feel good about myself. I feel stronger. I'm just in a very good space at the moment. Everything went according to the plan. I think we were on course to go 44 minutes, it was a matter of how fast are we were going to finish. It's a personal best time and it feels much easier than the 44 seconds that I have ran in the past. I'm hoping this is a good sign of a great season ahead. I'm currently ranked 7th in the world," said the New Balance Ambassador who represented the country at last year's Olympic Games.

Nene has been one of South Africa's most consistent sprinters for the last five years and he believes these kind of performances will be a game changer as he heads towards the European season. 

Nene in action against Botswana's Olympic gold medalist Letsile Tebogo and his compatriot Luengo Scotch during an ASA Grand Prix Series Meet at the Pilditch Athletics Stadium in March. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"For the past three or four years I have been running consistently well and this is the reward for it. I don't think I have peaked yet as there are some things that I haven't done in my training. I'm hoping to peak at the right time during the European season," said the man who hails from KZN where he is coached by Victor Vaz of the Fast Feet Athletic Club.

Before jetting off to compete on the European summer circuit, the 2021 and 2022 SA Champion has his sights set on winning the SA 400m title at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Track & Field Championships taking place from 24 - 26 April in Potchefstroom. He is expected to face a stiff competition from Pillay and World U20 400m gold medalist Udeme Okon. 

"Yes I'll be competing. I think I need to build on this form and capitalise at the SA Championships. The task is simple I want the 400m national title. That is approach, that's my mindset heading into the championships."