Goule - file

Up and coming long-distance talent Natoya Goule has her sights firmly set on qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics after narrowly missing out on last year's World Championships.

At last June's Senior National Championships, Goule came very close to qualifying for the Daegu Championships after competing in the 800 and 1500 metre events. Many pundits thought she could have made the team if it was not for a very busy year at her new school, where she competed on a regular basis, and also at the National Championships where she did two events instead of one.

"Unlike last season I will not be competing so regularly as my coach has already started my preparation for the Olympic Games. He wants me to make the Jamaica team," Goule said.

Goule will open her indoor season in a week and plans to use it as early preparation for the outdoor season.

"We will not be competing at Indoor National this season, so the Indoor season will be used to prepare me for the bigger picture and my fans can expect great things from me this year. My dream is to make the Olympic team and I am confident that I will go sub two minutes in the 800 metres as I will be concentrating on that event this year," Goule said.

Despite dominating sprint events on the world stage in track and field, the country is yet to make an impact in the distance events, although former St Jago High athlete Kenia Sinclair has had a fair amount of success in the 800 metres.

In London, Goule is hoping to become one of the few Jamaican females to don the national colours in the middle distance event at that level. After six Carifta Games titles in the 800 and 1500 metres, she took that great form to the collegiate level where in her first year at South Plains, she picked up eight All American honours and six National Championships . In addition, she is the school record holder of two outdoor events and and six indoors.

Goule also spoke about her first year at her new school. "I am very pleased with my achievements in academics and on the track in my first year as both have gone very well for me," said the 20-year-old Goule.

"This is my final year at Junior College, I will be attending University in September and I want to do better in the upcoming season than I did last year."