The British sprinter on how ‘bittersweet’ Paris experience is providing extra motivation, being coached by Lance Brauman and why next year’s European Championships in Birmingham will be so special
Daryll Neita, on a call from Florida, has settled into her new training base well. “It’s been a journey, but I’m definitely thriving,” she says.
Back in January, the 28-year-old who placed fourth in the 100m and fifth over 200m at last year’s Paris Olympics, swapped life in Italy under Marco Airale – she spent two years working with him – for the ‘Sunshine State’.
She is now coached by Lance Brauman, the man who has guided Noah Lyles to an Olympic 100m gold medal and four world sprint titles. It’s a decision that arose from wanting to leave “no stone unturned” to fulfil her goals.
“It was amazing being in Italy and I had so many great experiences there, with it being such an integral part of my journey,” Neita says. “But, really, getting so close to that podium twice, I felt like it’s really important for me to be in a place where every single thing is gearing towards that podium in Tokyo. [Working with] Coach Brauman was an amazing opportunity. He’s coached so many females that I would say have inspired me in my journey and I know he can do the same with me.
“There’s been a lot [of change]. I made a big adjustment. I moved country, so there’s that. You’re readjusting to everything. It just can take some athletes longer than others. I have moved camps in previous parts of my career, but I think I’m in a much different place where I’ve ever been. So making such a jump has just taken me that little bit longer.
“But there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. That gives me a lot of confidence, but it’s just kind of been taking time. Bit by bit and being very thankful that the season feels a little bit longer. So I’ve had a little bit more time, but I’m very confident going forward.”
Neita speaks with conviction when she states she wants to make the podium at this year’s World Athletics Championships. The sprinter calls her time at the Paris Olympics as “bittersweet”, given she felt an individual sprints medal was within her reach in the French capital.
Her fourth place in the Olympic 100m final was the best by a British female athlete at the Games for 64 years. However, with Neita now surrounded by global medallists in Florida, her perception is continuing to change and she is embracing learning new things.
“The stories I hear at training about previous coaches and previous athletes that my coach [Brauman] has coached and similarities there might be [to myself], gives me inspiration,” she says. “It excites me because I know that I’m in the right place and I can really do some special things. It’s just a bit of a process for myself, new coach, in getting to know who I am, what works and what doesn’t. We will get it right. But it’s great. I think that’s what it’s all about.
“You’re training with someone like Noah Lyles and he’s achieved the things that I dream of. I could be learning something that might not even be on the track, it might be a mental cue or like dealing with competing or something. I’ve had some races and I’ve come back not having performed how I’ve wanted to and it’s been nice to have people around you, who have experienced these things, to pick you up.
“It’s great watching Olympians training, jumping and every day. It’s great rubbing shoulders with people that you really respect, people who have achieved what you’re trying to do. I’m very open to learning and wanting to know more.”
Neita has season’s bests of 11.16 and 22.89 so far, with a large proportion of her races this year being at Grand Slam Track. She was the only British woman to join Michael Johnson’s brand new league and competed in both Kingston and Miami, even though she had to pull out of the recent Pennsylvania Slam due to tightness in her hamstring.
One of four Brits to have signed up as Racers – the other three being Zharnel Hughes, Matt Hudson-Smith and Josh Kerr – Neita believes that Grand Slam Track is an amazing incentive for athletes and it’s a showcase of the sport evolving.
“I would say that Michael Johnson’s done a great job in doing what he can,” she says. “Experiencing two of the grand slams was absolutely amazing and it’s great to see the high level competition we’re seeing. It isn’t an easy ride out there, so you need to be ready to work very fast and I think it’s just great for the sport, to switch it up a little bit and give athletes more opportunity and more incentive. And also it makes some money. I mean athletes like money! It’s really easy. Put money on the line and you’ll see us there.
“I’m really happy too be a part of this generation in athletics, where things look like they’re on the rise. Things are getting better. There’s more opportunities, there’s more to be inspired by it, and there’s more to push towards. So I think it’s great.”
If Neita had competed at the Pennsylvania Slam, she would have once again come up against Melissa Jefferson-Wooden, with the Olympic 100m bronze medallist picking up yet another Short Sprints (100m/200m) win after success in both Kingston and Miami.
Jefferson-Wooden ran a world-leading 10.73 at Franklin Field, with the US athlete’s form providing inspiration for Neita, given just one place separated them in the 100m at the Olympics.
“I was watching it and I’m just like, she’s really on one,” Neita says. “She’s obviously had a fantastic winter training block, and she’s so locked in and just mastering her craft, so it’s really good to see watching on. But it also gets me on the edge of my seat. Like, I just need to put the burners on now. I need to really turn it up.
“These level of athletes don’t wait for you. You’re there or you’re not. They’re gonna run, so it’s just about being a part of it. It’s good to see that it’s getting heated up and we’re only in June, so we can only imagine what it’s going to be like in Tokyo.”
After the World Athletics Championships, focus next year will soon turn to a European Championships on home soil in Birmingham. With Neita having secured a Commonwealth 100m bronze medal at the Alexander Stadium three years ago, she’s now determined to upgrade that to gold next season.
“I love competing in front of a home crowd,” she says. “There’s just nothing more special than that. When you look into the crowd and you’ve got all of our flags and no others, it’s so great. I love Birmingham because that’s where my personal best of 10.90 was set. So for me, that’s a very special track and it gives me a lot of good vibes and I cannot wait to run there again. So that’s really good.
“It’s always an amazing opportunity for family and friends to be able to come and watch us as well. They don’t have to travel too far, with us racing on home soil. I like being at home, although I always seem to be so far away from home. It’s nice to get the chance when I get to run in the UK. We’ve also got the best crowds and everyone knows that.”
