TRACK & FIELD
On his way to claiming the SA Under-18 title in 2019
of 2021 . In March , Lythe set a PB 45.53 in a Central Gauteng Athletics ( CGA ) open meet in Boksburg , then claimed a first SA U20 Title in Paarl in April , crossing the line in 46.13 , and added an SA U20 4x400m Title as he helped the CGA team win in 3:10.12 . That saw him selected as part of the SA 4x400m team for both the World Athletics Relay Champs and the Tokyo Olympics .
Ironically , picking up COVID and having a very short time to prep for the SA U20 Championships this year may actually have worked in Lythe ’ s favour , as he explains . “ We had such a short time to prepare for SA ’ s after COVID , that we decided to skip the senior World Championships in Oregon in July , and rather focus on the World U20 Championships in August . That gave us just that extra bit of time to prepare , and it worked in our favour . I feel that on Coach ’ s side , she put together a good programme , she really planned it well , interpreted the season well , and , ja , no , we did it ,” says a beaming Lythe .
“ I do wonder where I would be without that COVID setback , but I ’ m grateful for where I am now , and grateful for knowing I can still push my body . That ’ s why there were so many emotions going through me when I crossed that line in Cali . Coming off short last year , finally making it this year was quite a surreal moment . I am happy , we accomplished what we set out to do this year , and I ’ m more than pleased ,” he concludes .
THE WORLD AT HIS FEET
Still just 19 , Lythe has only just begun his sprinting journey , but he is already getting close to breaking 45 seconds in the 400m , and has , in a very short
Two SA World Champs in the 400m , Wayde van Niekerk and Lythe Pillay .
time , been exposed to competition at the highest level . Traditionally , 400m sprinters tend to reach their peak in their late 20s , so Lythe should be at his best for the 2028 and 2032 Olympics , where he will be 25 and 29 respectively , but for now , he has his sights set on the 2023 World Championships in Budapest , and the 2024 Olympics in Paris .
A first taste of the Olympics in Tokyo in 2020 has just made Lythe hungry for more .
Lythe will turn 20 early next year , which means that 2023 will be his first season competing as a senior , and to his credit , the young man is therefore not getting carried away with his World U20 Champs success . “ Next year may be quite a humbling year for me , but I guess this is my opportunity to prove myself ,” he says , adding that while he has a long-term dream , he is fully aware that the steps to greatness are taken one day , and one step , at a time .
He ’ s also hoping to be able to run the 4x400m with his hero , Wayde van Niekerk , and thus the day after his win in Cali , he was really excited to see that that he was now being followed on Instagram by the former Olympic and World Champion . “ He said , ‘ Well done ,’ which means a lot to me , and I feel like I ’ ve got Wayde ’ s approval now .” Of course , Wayde is already in the latter years f his career , but with Lythe coming through the ranks , the future of SA 400m running looks to have be an exciting prospect .
Images : Roger Sedres / ImageSA & Courtesy ASA & Lythe Pillay
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