South Africa’s Athlete Of The Year in 2022, Zeney van der Walt, may finally have decided her long-term athletics career: A tilt at the oldest record in local athletics.

After taking part in both the 400m hurdles and flat 400m at the World Championships in Budapest, Van der Walt, ended her campaign Tuesday night by finishing a tired last in her 400m hurdles semi-final after remarkably doing two events – both the semi-finals of the 400m flat and the first round heats of the 400m hurdles – in one night on Monday.

…next year, it’s the hurdles and I want to go sub-54. I want to train and work hard for that.

The 23-year-old Afrikaans and country music lover from Pretoria is the only athlete at the championships – outside of the heptathletes and decathletes – to have taken part in two specialist separate events… on the same day!

First up on Monday night was the heats of the 400m hurdles – a notoriously tough event where strength is the key ingredient to success. Finishing fifth in her heat in 55.21 seconds made it a close call but she eventually got through to Tuesday’s semi-final as one of the fastest qualifiers. Job done.

Next up was the flat 400m just two hours later. In the end it proved to be a step too far as she finished last in the first semi-final in 51.14 seconds.

So why did Van der Walt end up taking on the twin challenges against the best athletes in the world: “It is tough but my coach and I decided to do both events because I wanted to challenge myself on a physical and mental level and we are using this as a stepping zone.”

On Tuesday, Van der Walt, up against the fastest woman in the world in 2023 and 2019 silver medallist Femke Bol of Holland among others, admitted she was disappointed with her time and had been hoping for a personal best.

“I’m grateful to be part of the semi-final so now there’s a bit of rest and then we have a lot to work on,” Van der Walt said while still recovering from the effort. “But next year, it’s the hurdles and I want to go sub-54. I want to train and work hard for that.”

And what about Myrtle Bothma’s 1986 SA record of 53.74 seconds?

“Yes, that record still stands and yes, I think it is within my grasp.”

READ MORE ON: World Athletics Champs