Tamil Nadu's quarter-miler Vishal Thennarasu Kayalvizhi has stolen the spotlight at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, smashing the men's 400m national record with a stunning time of 45.12 seconds. The 21-year-old's record-breaking run on Thursday cemented his status as the country's top quarter-miler, as he comfortably left his competition behind. He bettered the previous national record of 45.21 seconds, which had been held by Muhammed Anas since 2019.
Vishal's remarkable improvement is a classic example of an athlete successfully switching disciplines. Just a year ago, in August 2024, he finished last in the 400m final at the National Open Athletics Championships in Bengaluru with a time of 48.59 seconds. His rapid rise to a national record holder is a testament to his dedication and the guidance of Jason Dawson, the head coach of the 4x400m men’s national relay team.
According to Dawson, a Jamaican coach, Vishal had numerous technical flaws when he first joined the national camp last December. "If you notice, he doesn’t even run like a 400m runner," Dawson said, explaining that he had to build the athlete from the ground up. The coach focused on fundamental changes to Vishal’s running form, including his warm-up, stretches, and drills. "He doesn’t even know how to cycle or how to use his arms properly," Dawson explained. A key focus has been teaching Vishal to use his hip flexors and keep his shoulders aligned, changes that are still a work in progress.
Vishal credits his coach for his success. Previously a sprinter training at the National Centre of Excellence, he was advised by his former coach R. Seenivasan to try the 400m. Following Dawson’s "result-oriented" training regime, Vishal has now dipped under 46 seconds five times in 2025 alone. After his record-breaking run, he proudly dedicated the victory to his coach, writing "For my coach Jason" on his bib and showing it to the cameras.
With his new record, Vishal is not far off from the 44.85-second entry standard for next month’s World Championships. However, he has had limited international exposure in individual 400m events. Dawson's next challenge is to secure more international competitions for Vishal to balance his individual potential with his role in the national 4x400m relay squad. "I think about Vishal training with some of the Jamaican athletes but I’m not sure I’ll get that chance. So, I have to find ways to get it done," Dawson said, hoping to work with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) to arrange more exposure trips next season.