Lythe Pillay believes his best is still to come as the in-form 400m star heads to his first Commonwealth Games determined to turn one of the finest seasons of his career into a medal-winning campaign.

The 23-year-old is among the 112 athletes selected for Team South Africa for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month and arrives as one of the country’s strongest medal prospects after a string of outstanding performances.

Pillay has steadily gathered momentum throughout the season. He opened his campaign with 45.97 seconds in March before producing a world-leading 44.32 to win the CGA senior men’s 400m title, finishing just 0.01 seconds outside his personal best.

He followed that with his second national title in Stellenbosch in challenging conditions, clocking 45.22, before smashing the South African 300m record with 31.58 at the SuperSport Simbine Classic.

His biggest statement, however, came at the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, where his astonishing 42.66-second second-leg split helped South Africa claim silver in the men’s 4x400m relay. The split is regarded as the fastest ever recorded in the event and immediately drew global attention.

“This is a massive one. It’s my first Commonwealth Games and after this I will have competed at every major championship,” said Pillay.

“The goal is to go there as a contender, not just a participant. I want to carry the momentum I’ve built this season and keep running fast.”

Even Pillay was initially reluctant to believe the relay split.

“Right after the race I was sceptical because there had been questions about the timing the day before. I thought I’d let everyone else dissect it first,” he said.

Also Read: Lythening-fast Pillay powers SA to World Relays silver

“But after the dust settled it seemed to be legitimate. It was exciting because we had been experimenting with my technique during training. I tested it over 300m and then on the relay, and it worked better than I expected.

“I’m not going to downplay it because it’s a massive achievement, but for me it was a glimpse of what’s possible over an individual 400m.”

Pillay said being moved onto the second leg before the final inspired one of the bravest races of his career.

“I knew I was up against one of the best in the world, Letsile Tebogo, and I told myself I was going to hurt myself that day. I was prepared to slay the dragon.”

After an injury-disrupted 2025 season, Pillay believes greater maturity and patience have transformed his outlook.

“I’m calmer now and I trust the process a lot more. My goal is consistency because that’s something I’ve been chasing for a few seasons.”

While he plans to race in Europe before Glasgow, Pillay insists every decision revolves around peaking for the Commonwealth Games.

“The target is Commonwealth. That’s where I want to make a dent.”

Also Read: Pillay dazzles at Simbine Classic