Nickisha Pryce, a senior from the University of Arkansas, made her pro debut at the London Diamond League today. For her new personal best, the Jamaican 400m national record holder for 2023 locked horns with Natalia Kaczmarek and blazed past the finish line in just 48.57 seconds. Kaczmarek herself ran a personal best of 48.90. While fellow sprinter Lieke Klaver completed the podium with 49.58 seconds on the clock, Pryce has once again bested Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s record, akin to her last year’s performance.

Pryce previously set a new 400m world lead with 48.89 seconds at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Eugene. Not only did she win the 400m title, but she also improved upon her personal best of 50.21 seconds from before. The 2x national champion surpassed McLaughlin-Levrone’s 49.71 seconds set at the Paris Diamond League in June last year. While Mclaughlin-Levrone surpassed that 20 hours later at the NYC Grand Prix, Pryce had still achieved a monumental feat, further setting the tone for an Olympic win this year.

Nickisha Pryce sets the tone for the Olympics at the London Diamond League

Amidst the deafening cheers from the stand, Pryce crowned herself as the new world lead by the end of a thrilling 400m race. Track & Field Gazette celebrated this feat on X. “48.57s World Lead ☑️ NICKISHA PRYCE 🇯🇲!!!!!!🤯🤯She has just shattered her Jamaican National Record, clocking a blistering 48.57s to win the women’s 400m at the London Diamond League! Natalia Kaczmarek 🇵🇱 was 2nd in a PB of 48.90s, while Lieke Klaver 🇳🇱 ran 49.58s in 3rd.” What a stunning way to round off her final event before she makes her way to the Paris Summer Games!

Nickisha Pryce was up against Laviai Nielsen, Victoria Ohuruogu, Amber Anning, Natalia Kaczmarek, Lieke Klaver, Lynna Irby-Jackson, and Talitha Diggs. As soon as the gun went off, Pryce had a decent start in lane 6. However, within seconds, she caught up with Netherland’s Diggs and Poland’s Kaczmarek. She eventually increased the distance between her competitors. Around the bend, Kaczmarek and Klaver started getting dangerously close. But Pryce wasn’t deterred in the slightest.

The speedster continued treading on, effortlessly crossing the finish line as the new world lead. Her stellar performance shattered another record at the London Stadium. She surpassed the now-retired Lorraine Fenton’s 22-year-old Jamaican record of 49.30 seconds set in July 2002. With this exceptional time, she had now moved past Cathy Freeman, Sanya Richards, and Tatàna Kocembova on the 400m all-time list.

While McLaughlin-Levrone wasn’t present at the London Diamond Games, she had previously dethroned Pryce with her stellar performance at the USATF NYC Grand Prix. Running the third-fastest 400m time, she blazed to the finish line in 48.75 seconds successfully reclaiming the world lead title. “The wind was a little interesting on the back stretch, but I’m happy with the time,” she later admitted to NBC Sports. She might not have broken the American record, but she was glad to be at the top of the 400m all-time standings. It doesn’t need to be said that her fellow sprinter Pryce herself must be feeling on top of the world right now!

Making heads turn at the Jamaican Olympic Trials

Despite setting the national record at the NCAA Championships, most didn’t consider Nickisha Pryce the favorite going into the Olympic Trials at the National Stadium. Now, she has ultimately proven that she has what it takes by securing a spot in the track and field finals. Amidst a rousing battle in the semi-finals, she surpassed Sada Williams from Barbados and clinched a win with 49.63 seconds. 2nd-place winner Williams crossed the finish line in 49.80 seconds—her season’s best—and Junelle Bromfield completed the podium by setting a new personal best with 50.74 seconds, finishing third. But Pryce wasn’t done just yet.

The athlete had just one goal on her mind: securing a spot on the Paris-bound team. With a promising start in the finals, she eventually gained the lead around the bend. In the Jamaican Olympic Trials, Pryce created a surmountable distance between herself and her competitors and crossed the finish line in 50.01 seconds. Stacey Ann Williams nabbed second place in the finals with 50.56 seconds on the clock. Coming in hot on their heels, Junelle Bromfield clinched the third spot with 51.24 seconds.

Nickisha Pryce and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone will both be competing in the French capital. But unfortunately, fans won’t witness the two lock horns in Stade de France. While Pryce has qualified for her usual 400m event, McLaughlin Levrone will be returning to claim another Olympic gold in the 400m hurdles. Before today, it’s hard to say what dreams Pryce had set to race the event at a global championship level. Will she be able to clinch an Olympic gold? Only time will tell!