Pillay off to world relay champs in China
He is part of a team of 19 athletes that will represent the country in the championships.
Lythe Pillay will be part of the national squad representing the country at the World Athletics (WA) Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China, on May 10 and 11.
The Brentwood Park resident is among 19 athletes to compete in four events – men’s 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m.
Pillay, who won the national 400m title last year, was part of the men’s 4x400m relay team that clinched a silver medal at the relay championships in the Bahamas.
He ran a crucial final lap to propel South Africa to second place as he clocked the second-fastest lap in 44.42.
South Africa was out of the podium positions when Pillay received the baton from Antonie Nortje for the last lap.
The Arbor Primary alumnus stormed through from fifth to finish second, behind gold medallists Botswana in 03:00:75, chasing down Belgium, Japan and Italy.
The recently crowned national 400m champion Zakithi Nene, world junior 400m champion Udeme Okon, Gardeo Isaacs, Tumisang Shezi and Mthi Mthimkulu will join Pillay in the team.
Nene, Pillay and Isaacs formed part of the team of four athletes who earned silver in the Bahamas last season.
The women’s 4x400m relay team will be led by national one-lap champion Miranda Coetzee and joined by hurdles specialists Zeney Geldenhuys and Hannah van Niekerk, Shirley Nekhubui, Precious Molepo and Jada van Staden.
Isaacs, Coetzee and Nekhubui will also turn out in the mixed 4x400m event, along with Brakpan resident, Leendert Koekemoer, who broke the SA U20 men’s 400m record when he clocked 45.03 seconds at the ASA Senior Track and Field Championships in Potchefstroom.
National 100m record holder Akani Simbine will anchor the men’s 4x100m team. He will be joined by junior sensation Bayanda Walaza and fellow rising star Bradley Nkoana; both were with Simbine in the sprint relay team that earned South Africa a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
The team also includes national 200m champion Sinesipho Dambile, Retshidisitswe Mlenga and Tsebo Matsoso.
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