If gold medals were awarded for positive thinking Daryll Neita would have one to go with her British 200 metres title.
Her response to clocking a championship record time of 22.25 seconds in Manchester was short and to the point. “I feel anything is possible,” she said. “I’m in the shape of my life. I really feel I’ll shock the world in Budapest.”
The Hungarian capital is where the World Championships are staged next month. It is where Neita will come up against Gabby Thomas, who has just run 21.6secs, the sixth fastest time in history, to win the US title.
There will of course be reigning champion Shericka Jackson, who clocked 21.71 at the Jamaican Champs over the weekend. Sha’Carri Richardson (21.94) will be there too. As will Britain’s 2019 world champion, Dina Asher-Smith.
In other words Neita, who has yet win a global individual medal of any colour and has long been eclipsed by Asher-Smith in terms of profile, is up against it.
Only she refuses to see it that way. “I’m not scared to beat people,” she declared. “I want to be number one and I really believe I can achieve what I set out to achieve.
“Some people are like ‘wow she’s absolutely crazy.’ I hear it all the time. But I love a bit of doubt. I like to prove myself right and that’s what I’m doing now.
“I’m going to Budapest to get on that podium. I feel all athletes should be. Gone are the days of getting in the team and getting the vest. We should be bringing back medals, otherwise why are we going?”
There was disappointment in Manchester where Neita and Asher-Smith, scheduled to go head-to-head over the two sprint distances, chose to avoid each other.
For a sport desperate for rivalries it was another opportunity missed to boost athletics’ ever-diminishing profile.
Neita is unapologetic, so focused is she on her mission to make a name for herself rather than be forever linked with her, thus far, more celebrated British relay partner.
“Dina is an incredible athlete who has done incredible things, and it’s amazing to recognise her achievements, but I don’t focus on her,” she said. “I’m Daryll Neita, I’m someone completely different.
“I work really hard to be where I am now and I don’t want my achievements to be compared to the extent they are with another athlete.
“When you look at our journeys they have been the polar opposites. I didn’t run sub-11 (for 100m) 10 years ago. I got my first ever individual medals last year.
“We need to be shown as different athletes. The rivalry is great but I’m Daryll Neita. I’m doing my own thing.”
