For the second week in a row, Natoya Goule ran a time in the 400m that is giving her cause to be optimistic about the season ahead.

Goule, a finalist in the 800m at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, has spent much of the season working on her speed and strength, running the 1500m and 400m races in preparation for what is expected to be a keenly contested battle for 800m medals the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer.

The 30-year-old Jamaican, who holds the Jamaican national record of 1:56.15, Goule ran the 400m in 52.40 at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial at the Spec Towns Track in Athens, Georgia on Saturday. The time was close to the 52.22, her fastest time since 2011, that she ran at the UCF Knights Invitational in Florida, just over a week ago.

However, while her time was slower on Saturday, it brought a greater level of excitement for the diminutive Jamaican. “It went well. I ran 52:40 after a loaded week of practice, so I’m excited,” she said.

“The work volume was high compared to regular times. The times were faster and I trained through the week as if I didn’t have a race. The 400 was just part of my training for that week.”

She revealed that the back-to-back races and the times tell her that she is on track to meet her objectives this season.

“It means a lot to me, because after what I did in the week and still was able to compete in the 400 and run 52.40, that shows how strong I am this year,” she said.

“God has been helping me through workouts and continuing to show me that I am better than how I was and I am extremely happy about where I am.”

On Saturday, Goule blew away her opponents in the one-lap sprint as second-placed Andrea Foster was more than two seconds behind in 54.55 while Courtney Williams was third in 54.91.

Now, having tested her speed on consecutive weekends, Goule will face a test of her strength when she runs the 1500m at the Mt Sac Relays on May 9.