'The faster we run, the more dangerous we are going to be in the relay' - Lythe Pillay enjoying 400m competition in SA

SA 400m champion Lythe Pillay believes the exciting current crop of junior athletes like Udeme Okon and his training partner, Leendart Koekemoer, will greatly benefit the men's 4x400m relay team in the long run. Pillay, who won the 400m World U20 title in Cali in 2022, said the two youngsters, as well as Sinesipho Dambile, will be valuable additions to the current pool of 400m specialists, which includes Zakhithi Nene, Gardeo Isaacs and Antonie Nortjè, as well as world 400m record holder, Wayde van Niekerk. 

"It's healthy to see lots of upcoming and current athletes making a dent. The faster all of us run, the more dangerous we are going to be, come the relays," he told #TheTopRunner.

Pillay in action at the 2024 ASA Senior Track and Field Championships where he won the gold medal. Photo Credit: Central Gauteng Athletics Media.

After winning the national title in a lifetime best 44.31 in Pietermaritzburg last April, Pillay, who has run under 45 seconds five times in his career, ran a sensational final lap to help the 4x400m relay team to a silver medal at the World Athletics Relay championships in the Bahamas a month later. Team SA was out of the podium positions when Pillay received the baton from Nortje for the final lap, but he stormed through from fifth to finish second behind gold medallists Botswana, in 03:00:75, chasing down Belgium, Japan and Italy during that breathtaking last lap.

Pillay also clocked the third fastest lap of 44.42 in the final to win SA's first world relays medal since the men's 4x200m silver in Yokohama in 2019. The 22-year old, who is coached by Lindi du Plessis, explained that a competitive 400m environment is a positive sign and gives them enough depth going into major championships. 

Pillay poses in front of the clock after securing the national title, a PB and an Olympic qualifier in April 2024. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"If one of us is injured, we could easily get a replacement. Last year at the Olympics, Wayde couldn't compete for us. He was our team captain and was as invested as all of us. Comparing the Paris Olympics to Tokyo 2021, we were second last in the semis in Tokyo, but last year we were fifth in the final with a new national record. To see the difference, competitiveness and the number of us competing at this level is a positive."

Pillay began his 2025 season with a second place finish, behind Okon, at the second ASA Grand Prix at the University of Johannesburg on March 19. He crossed the line in 45.74, 0.47 seconds behind the 19-year old Okon, who will challenge him for the national title at the Athletics South Africa Senior Track & Field Championships next month.

Pillay, the 2022 World Junior champion, is looking forward to competing for South Africa in the 4x400m at the World Relays and World Championships. Photo Credit: World Athletics.

On his title defence at the nationals, he said, "Udeme has set the tone for the year. He's a contender. Dambile has also entered the chat. Leendart is also making waves. Normally, I don't face most of my competitors early in the season. But it's nice. The faster the competition, the faster I have to run."