Jamaica’s Nickisha Pryce Beats 400m World Lead at London Diamond League

Nickisha Pryce has once again showcased her remarkable talent in the 400m, delivering a stellar performance at the London Diamond League.

The Jamaican sprinter reset Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s world lead with a time of 48.57 seconds, solidifying her status as a top contender for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Pryce has had an extraordinary year, beginning with her collegiate achievements as part of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

In May, she was crowned the SEC 400m champion and followed up with a gold medal at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in June, where she set a personal best and world lead time of 48.89 seconds.

Although this world lead was later surpassed by McLaughlin-Levrone’s 48.75 at the USATF New York Grand Prix, Pryce reclaimed her top spot in London.

At the London Diamond League, Pryce not only set a new world lead but also established a national and meet record with her winning time of 48.57 seconds.

She finished well ahead of the competition, with Natalia Kaczmarek of Poland coming in second with a personal best of 48.90 seconds, and the Netherlands’ Lieke Klaver securing third with her own personal best of 49.58 seconds.

Nickisha Pryce to Make Olympic Debut in Paris

Nickisha Pryce’s performance in London was a crucial test on the international stage as she prepares for her Olympic debut in Paris.

On July 12, she was named to the Jamaican national team for the Paris Olympics, joining fellow 400m sprinters Junelle Bromfield and Stacey Ann Williams.

Although the Paris Olympics will be Pryce’s first appearance at the marquee event, she is no stranger to major competitions. At the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships, she was part of the Jamaican 4x400m relay team that won silver.

Pryce’s impressive season has included victories at the SEC and NCAA Outdoor Championships, as well as the Jamaican National Championships.

With her recent world-leading performance, she has firmly established herself as a favorite for gold in Paris, and fans eagerly await her showing at the Games.