Goule eager to take the track
BEIJING, China — Despite her small physique, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule has one of the biggest hearts when it comes to middle-distance running.
Goule, 24, who has won over 14 gold medals at the ISSA Girls’ Championships and 12 at the regional Carifta Games over 800m, 1,500m and 4x400m relays, is eager to open her account at the World Championships.
But the former Manchester High star will have to wait until next Wednesday before she gets some 800m action.
“I am really, really eager. I am so hungry, so I just want to go out there and give it everything I’ve got because once you put God in it things always happen,” Goule told the Jamaica Observer after training under the watchful eyes of personal coach Michael Elliott.
“I am really happy right now. I am relaxed and my workout has been going very well, so I just need to work on my mental (game) because I know I am physically fit,” said Goule.
She continued: “It’s just for me to put my mental and physical strength together, then I will go out there and do what I am supposed to do.”
Goule of Clemson University and Simoya Campbell of UTech engaged each other in a tremendous battle in the 800m final at Jamaica’s National Senior Championships and pushed each other to personal best times and earned spots on Jamaica’s team.
Goule won in 1:59.63 minutes, with Campbell just behind in 1:59.92. Both were selected to represent Jamaica at the World Championships having dipped below the qualifying mark of 2:01.00 minutes. It was the first time two athletes were qualifying for this event at the World Championships.
Based on the confidence exuded by Goule, Jamaica’s national record of 1:57.88 done by Kenia Sinclair in 2006 could be in trouble on what is expected to be a new fast mondo surface.
But Goule doesn’t have that on her mind right now, as she would be more than satisfied with achieving her personal best.
“A PR anything under 1:59 minutes… I am good with that,” said Goule.
“This is the first time in a long time or the first time ever we have so much distance people and everybody looks good in practice and I think we all are prepared to go out there and do our best,” she added.
— Howard Walker
