Sprinting ahead of the competition
King Edward VII School (KES) Athletics Club and Central Gauteng Athletics athlete Lythe Pillay is shining on the track, breaking two South African records.
The Central Gauteng Athletics’ Inter-Provincial Sub-Youth Championships were held in Potchefstroom last Saturday.
The event saw athletes from across the country competing for top honours.
Among them was King Edward VII School (KES) Athletics Club and Central Gauteng Athletics athlete Lythe Pillay (15), from Bonaero Park, who not only won gold in the 200m and 400m sprints but broke the South African record in both events.
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Pillay began his running career in Grade One, at school, but became serious about the sport and his career as an athlete about two years ago.
“I have been running since Grade One, but didn’t take it too seriously and then in Grade Seven things changed and I began to specialise and became more focused,” he said when he spoke to the GCN at the Germiston Stadium where he trains with his coach Lindi Du Plessis.
The two met by chance. Pillay says they clicked instantly and look forward to a long partnership.
Pillay’s primary discipline is the 400m sprints but he also competes in the 200m sprints.
When asked what he loves about running he said, “I enjoy everything about running, its fun.
“I’ve been running all my life and don’t know what I’d do without it.
“Running just comes naturally for me.”
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Pillay always gets nervous before competing but everything comes together when the start gun goes off. This is evident with the two records to his name.
“I am still trying to take it all in after my wins,” he said.
“I have been looking forward to and working toward the times I set but it was still unexpected.”
Looking to the future Pillay aims to continue improving, reaching for new goals and remaining injury free, by not pushing himself too far too fast, all under the watchful eye of his coach.
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