Goule unfazed by Senior Champs loss

Former National 800m Champion Natoya Goule says the weather played a part in her defeat at the JAAA Senior National Championships on Sunday.

However, she says she is already looking past it and her main focus is now to perform well at the World Athletics Championships next month.

"It was pouring so that had a big impact on racing, and if you're my size and running in the rain, water coming into your shoes you know that it is kind of difficult to run," Goule said. "But I am not looking on this because I am going to World Championships, and that was the aim."

Goule, ranked 23rd in the world, finished second in 2:00.83 minutes behind former 400m runner Chrisann Gordon-Powell who clocked2:00.35 to claim her first national title, while Adelle Tracey finished third in 2:01.18.

Goule, who had won every national 800m title since 2013, said she is still confident going into the World Championships.

"I haven't lost the national title for years but, you know, you have to win some and lose some," she said. "I am confident going into the World Championships because after running in the rain and running two minutes and still feeling strong, I know that I am going to go out there and represent Jamaica."

The 2019 Pan American champion said she hopes she will get Jamaica's first medal by a woman in the 800m at the World Championships, but admits she has to work on executing her races properly.

"I just have to execute my races differently because I think that was the problem," she said. "I just need to stay confident and just not panic or anything, [but] just run my race and I know that it will be fine."

when she made the final in 2019, but this year she will be joined by Navasky Anderson.

"I am feeling excited because I'm like, 'Okay, it's not just me alone for the 800m no more!', you know you have other people coming, so I am really excited about that," she said.

She said she is happy with the development of the 800m among Jamaicans and she believes the country will do well in years to come.

"I am getting older and I am not going to be in this sport long, so it is good to see the young ones are coming up," she said. "I am just happy knowing that Jamaica is going to be in good hands."

Goule is the only Jamaican woman so far to meet the automatic qualifying standard of 1:59.50 for the World Championships, with her fastest time this year being 1:59.31 set at the Diamond League is Oslo on June 16.