By
Newly crowned FISU World University Games 400m champion Lythe Pillay reckons he can still improve on his pace following success at the Rhine-Ruhr event.
Speaking to SABC Sport after dominating the tracks with a superb 44.84 time to add another gold medal for Team SA, the UJ student said his hard work had finally paid off on the back of a turbulent season.
Pillay added that he felt he could still run faster.
"I've been chasing the big Q [qualification] all year, I got it at the last minute but I'll take it nonetheless but now I feel like I always push the finish line further every time I get closer to it,” Pillay said.
“Coming in I did think I would feel redeemed, now I feel like I can still go faster. I feel like I have more work to do which I think is a good thing but I'll also enjoy the moment now."
The 22-year-old who was at the Olympic Games last year also mentioned that he’d altered his strategy coming to Germany.
"I've kind of had to rediscover my race this year, I think since Paris I've kind of been trying to be more of an explosive starter but I do realise that I have different strengths in the 400m,” he added.
“So, I've been reverting back to that and slowly finding lengths in my stride again. Training has been coming on well and I'm hungrier than ever.”
Pillay is now off to the World Championships in Tokyo come September, where he knows a time of 44.84 will be the standard.
"No definitely, but I mean I'll always find a way to push the finish line further. I'll be expecting to run a time like this in the heats at the seniors.
“So, I'm climbing my way back up there, finding my way again. So, come champs [World Championships], there's no starting with the 46 anymore. At least I'm finding my legs again, so I'm a bit confident going in."
