The affable and determined Simoya Campbell turned in a very good performance to finish 3rd in the 800m in a personal best 2.01.59 after coming into the final 150m a step or two behind the leaders before fading somewhat. The race was won in a world leading 1.59.35 by Rose Mary Almanza of Cuba ahead of compatriot and World Junior Silver medalist Sahily Diago (1.59.91 SB).
Simoya Campbell was expected to give the fans at the Jamaica International Invitational something to cheer about. Fate intervened however and the former Spalding High School standout who is now in her 2nd year at the University of Technology (UTech) crashed to the ground after clipping heels with one of the athletes in the 800m event.
It was not the first time that the 2015 INTERCOL triple Gold medalist was experiencing such disappointment and like she has always done, Campbell shed the tears and picked herself up, ready to fight another day. That day came on Saturday May 23 at the Ponce Grand Prix Meeting in Puerto Rico.
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Campbell who was a member of Jamaica’s fledgling 4x800m team to the 2nd IAAF World Relays in the Bahamas is chasing the 2015 IAAF World Championship automatic qualifying standard of 2.01.00. She will be looking to attain that standard in upcoming meets including the National Senior Trials and to join Natoya Goule as Team Jamaica’s representatives to the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China. The 21 year old clipped more than half a second off her previous best of 2.02.43 set last year in Kingston.
In her post race assessment on her Facebook page, Campbell noted:
A new PB for me last night in Ponce Puerto Rico and I am so thankful to the Almighty for his blessings once again. Father I thank you for all that you have been doing in my life so far this year and I am extremely grateful. So many challenges leading up to this point yet you continue to prove to me that no matter what storm clouds may rock this ship of mine your light will lead me safely through. The work has just began, I will continue to work hard the rest of the way. Thanks for all the love and support……..Already see a few errors made in this race and I am ready to go back to the drawing board to fix them.
#MissionBeijing
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