Goule inspires us – Ferguson
NATOYA GOULE’S recent personal best of 1:56.15 in the 800m could open up the floodgates for a discipline that has been undermanned in Jamaica’ track and field for a long time.
Fellan Ferguson has positioned herself to be one of the first beneficiaries, as she has been studying the former Manchester High School athlete from a close angle.
“I have been training with her (Goule) for one season now, and because I am using her as a target each day, I know it is only a matter of time before I start running under two minutes,” said Ferguson, who has a personal best of 2:03:15.
She continued: “This is a great thing for Jamaica’s 800m running because there are not a lot of us, so Goule doing well will inspire others to want to take up 800m running. Right now, it is just me, Simoya (Campbell) and Goule, and we need more people to make it more competitive”.
The Johnson C Smith University graduate joined forces with Goule last year September, when she decided to follow her collegiate coach Lennox Graham to Clemson University.
“I train with her, so I knew that she was capable of running those times, but when it happened, it made me realised that I am not far off because I know that she has been pulling me through some good times in training, so I have to just go out there and execute a good race,” she said.
But Ferguson’s hunger to run under two minutes seems not enough to convince her to try to make track and field into a career as she is equally yearning for a career in the field of accounting.
“I am on a scholarship now at Clemson doing my masters now in accounting, but I haven’t made up my mind yet whether I will continue or not,” said Ferguson. “Sir G (as Graham is fondly called) is encouraging me to (try), and even Goule, but I have to see first because there are some real good opportunities (in accounting) before me now.”
Ferguson, who is representing Jamaica for the first time at these Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, is hoping she will join the small list of Jamaican female 800m runners who have gone under two minutes when she features.
Ferguson qualified for today’s final after finishing third in her semifinal in a time of 2:06:36. Campbell, 2:05:62, also advanced to the finals, after finishing second in her semifinals.