Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
( L - R ) Talbert and Goule
"I don't want to go to hell," said Manchester High's Natoya Goule, referring to the hot conditions she battled enroute to winning Sunday's Upliftment 5K at Emancipation Park in New Kingston.
The event was the second race of the 2006 Foska Oats/Jamdammers Grand Prix Series.
"It was hot out there and I had to use a lot of strength towards the finish," Goule said.
"When I was coming back I had to run harder. I don't want to go to hell because the bible says hell is very hot, so if out here is that hot, hell must be hotter," she said with a smile.
Goule wasn't the only winner complaining about the heat. Men's champion Wainard Talbert also stated his discomfort.
Despite the conditions, the two winners maintained their unbeaten run in the series so far, adding Sunday's triumph to the Ministry of Health 5K and Burger King 10K.
Goule, who remains unbeaten for the past three seasons, won Sunday's event in 18 minutes and 14 seconds, ahead of G.C. Foster College's Tamica Thomas (18:54), Teniesha Davis of Vere Technical (19:12), Tanice Bennett (19:27) and Petrene Plummer (19:41) of Holmwood Technical.
Push
Commenting on her time Goule, the Carifta Under-17 800m and 1500m champion, said: "If I had pushed a little more I could've run 17 seconds. I never believed I would run 18 seconds today because the sun was very hot."
Meanwhile, the much-anticipated clash between the present and former kings of the road, Talbert and Linton McKenzie, did not materialise.
Talbert of Lion Heart Track Club won in 15 minutes and 18 seconds, while McKenzie (17:46) finished in 41st position.
Kemoy Campbell of Bellefield, who pressured Talbert up to the last kilometre, finished second in 15:21, while Andre Drummonds (15:27) was third and Kevin Campbell of Lion Heart (15:29) fourth. Talbert had mixed feelings afterwards.
"It was a good time, better than the last time, but I wanted to do a better time but the heat was bad out there," he said.
Talbert added: "The race was challenging because I was sitting back and found myself in the pack at the 3K, but I broke away at the 4K mark."
He made it clear that he wants to run good this season because he wants a sponsor to assist his preparation as he gears toward the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
