TOKYO, Japan — Natoya Goule-Toppin has long been the face of Jamaica’s 800m hopes, consistently fighting her way to finals and ensuring representation in the middle distance on the biggest stages.

This time around at the World Athletics Championships, Goule-Toppin left the track with a familiar mixture of pride and frustration, knowing that the performance she produced was not the one her preparation or her talent deserved.

Goule finished outside of the qualifying spots in her semi-final, clocking 1:59.58 for a surprising fifth-place finish.

“I know I’m better than what I did,” Goule said. “I tried, I pushed as hard as I could, but my legs gave up. I’m in better shape than what I did.

“I just have to lift my chin high and brush this off, but it’s kind of frustrating knowing that you’re in better shape than what you have done and it’s not manifesting out there so the world can see the great athlete that you are,” she said. “I was expecting a huge PR, like 1:54. My training for the last couple of weeks has been showing that.”

Explaining her approach, Goule said she was confident in the plan going into the race.

“My tactic going in that race, I felt like I was strong enough, I felt like I was on the right pace of doing what I am supposed to do, but going into the straight my legs just couldn’t go,” she said.

Known for her front-running style, Goule admits that this time her decision to hold back early may have cost her.

“As you can see, I didn’t take the front from the get-go, which I could have, but I really wish I had because I feel like it would have been better if I had taken the front,” she reflected.

For now disappointment is the overriding emotion, but Goule remains defiant. Her ability is not in question, and neither is her desire.

“I might not have done what I know I can do today but I gave it my best and that’s all I can ask of myself,” she said. “This wasn’t the performance I wanted but I know it’s not the end of my story.”

– Andre Lowe