It might sound like a boxing match, but Simoya Campbell’s first experience at World Championship level tells her that she will have to be more aggressive if she is to succeed in the 800m at the highest level.

Campbell, 21, who finished fifth in her heat with a time of 2:01.43 minutes, failed to advance to the semi-finals after a bumpy encounter in which her light-framed body took a beating.

“There is a lot that I need to take back home,” said Campbell, as she came to grips with the reality of being knocked out in the first round.

“The girls, they run really aggressive. I am not used to that because there is no one in Jamaica who runs like that,” Campbell said while thinking of the experience she gained yesterday.

“It’s aggressive, and maybe I need to run in a more aggressive manner, run more rough, because I am really light and the least bounce I get may lead to a fall,” Campbell said.

Campbell who weighs approximately 119 pounds and who stands at five feet six inches, took the lead early and dictated the pace for the first 500m before falling into fifth spot. Despite her gallant rally down the straight, Campbell came up just short, finishing in 2:01.43 minutes. The race was won by Sofia Ennaqui of Poland in 2:01.16 minutes.

“I got instructions from coach that I should go through the first 400 in 58 (seconds). I was looking at the clock…I thought I was safe in the 58 zone. But unfortunately, I did one minute which was two seconds slower than what he wanted. But I am very pleased with my performance,” Campbell said.

The former Spalding High star stated that although her run in Beijing did not allow her to go forward in the 800m or the fact that she did not lower her personal best of 1:59.26 minutes, they were not impediments going ahead.

“God has blessed me with this talent because everyone in Jamaica runs in the sprints, and knowing that we have three girls running really great in the 800m is very good and I am looking forward to next year. I will keep trying, I won’t give up until I get myself a medal,” the University of Technology student said.

— Howard Walker