Tokyo 2025: Goule-Toppin into 800m semis
TOKYO, Japan — Natoya Goule-Toppin advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s 800m after winning her first round heat in 1:59.66 on day six of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
Goule was the only of three Jamaicans to advance beyond the first round as Adelle Tracey and Kelly-Ann Beckford were both eliminated.
The many-time champion, who was second at the Jamaican National Championships in late June, took control of the heat from the start and dictated the pace to beat Botswana’s Oratile Nowe— 2:00.09 and Canada’s Maeliss Trapeau— 2:00.38.
Tracey, who also ran the 1500m earlier, was seventh in her race in 2:01.70 while national champion and North American, Central American and Caribbean Championships (NACAC) bronze medallist Kelly-Ann Beckford was fourth in her heat in 2:02.63, just out of the top three automatic qualifying spots.
— Paul Reid
