Ajee Wilson

Thompson-Herah is entered in both 100 metres and 200m events. The 100 field also includes her fellow Jamaicans Natasha Morrison and Briana Williams, Bahamian Tynia Gaither, Trinidad and Tobago’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste and American Tianna Bartoletta.

Thompson-Herah is second on the 2021 world outdoor performance list at 10.78 seconds, trailing only American sprint sensation Sha’Carri Richardson (10.72). Morrison is fourth with a 10.87 run, while Williams is 11th at 10.98. Gaither is also in the top 20, her 11.02 clocking placing her at number 13.

In the longer sprint, Thompson-Herah will be challenged by Williams, Gaither, Great Britain’s Jodie Williams and American Brittany Brown, the 2019 World Championship 200m silver medalist.

Brown, eighth on the 2021 global list at 22.43 seconds, is tipped for top honours in the NACAC New Life Invitational half-lap event.

Bartoletta, the 2016 Olympic Games long jump gold medalist, is on the entry list for her pet event. Bartoletta will face strong challenges from fellow American Malaina Payton, Jamaica’s Chanice Porter, Briton Lorraine Ugen and Canadian Christabel Nettey.

The women’s 100m hurdles is packed with quality that includes Jamaica’s 2015 world champion Danielle Williams, Nigerian Tobi Amusan and American Christina Clemons.

Jamaican Chrisann Gordon-Powell and American Wadeline Jonathas go head-to-head in the women’s 400 while in the 400 hurdles, Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad takes on 2021 world leader Shamier Little (53.12).

The two Americans, though, will not have things all their own way as in-form Jamaicans Rhonda Whyte and Shiann Salmon are also in the line-up and coming off season-best performances in Jacksonville on Sunday.

American Ajee Wilson is expected to dominate the women’s 800m.

And in the women’s triple jump, Dominican Republic’s Ana Tima is the one to watch.

Among the men that will feature at the NACAC New Life Invitational are American sprint star Trayvon Bromell, the 2021 100m world leader at 9.88 seconds, and Samoan discus thrower Alex Rose.

Some 200 athletes from 27 countries are expected to be on show at the NACAC New Life Invitational. Saturday’s meet starts at 2 pm (Eastern Daylight Time).

The 2019 World Championships 800m finalist ran world-leading 1:24 to win the event in what was also a new national record. She out-sprinted her long-time rival Ajee Wilson, who was second in 1:26 (1:25.007). Allie Wilson was third in (1:25.270) but given the same time as Ajee.

The 2018 NACAC Senior Championships 800m silver medalist told Sportsmax.TV she was pleasantly surprised by the time.

“The experience was wonderful. I’m used to doing road racing but this was different because it was faster,” said Goule, whose indoor best is 1:25.35 set in February 2017.

“When I found out I ran 1:24 that was when I was in shock because it was a lifetime PR. I watched the replay on NBC and they thought I was shocked that I won but it was because of the time they announced.

“I am humbled to get the win because Ajee is a very talented athlete and it’s always a pleasure racing with her over these years.”

Goule has been working on her speed and strength all season, running her fastest 400m races in a decade as well as 1500m races, all in an effort to improve her 800m times. The win on Sunday was a great indicator that the work has been paying off.

“It definitely does tell me that I am better than I think I am at this moment. To be able to run that time on the road speaks volumes,” she said, revealing that she prefers running the 600m outdoors.

 “It actually feels more comfortable running it on the road compared to indoors because you just have to run and you don’t know where the 200 or 400 mark is. I am yet to know what my 400 split was because I did not see a mark.”

She will be running the 800m in Doha on Friday but is just hoping to do deliver her best race.

 “I am not setting and targets for Doha. I just want to go out there and compete and the time will come once we the athletes perform to our best ability,” she said.