Pryce defends Jamaican title, Nugent runner-up in hurdles

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Arkansas alum Nickisha Pryce claimed a third consecutive 400m title at the Jamaican National Championships on Sunday while Ackera Nugent finished second in the 100m hurdles.

Earlier in the championships Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney of St. Vincent and the Grenadines won the 800m in 1:59.81 as an international quest and Razorback Nia Robinson placed second the in long jump with a wind-aided mark of 21-4.75 (6.52).

Athletes who have the standard qualify for the 2025 World Athletics Championships that will be held in Tokyo during September.

Running a season best time of 49.97, Pryce finished ahead of Georgia’s Dejanea Oakley and Stacey Ann Williams, who were both timed in 50.08. Williams trains in Fayetteville along with Pryce.

Previously, Pryce won Jamaican titles in 50.21 (2023) and 50.01 (2024). She holds the Jamaican national record with a 48.57 from 2024 in winning the London Diamond League.

Razorback Joanne Reid finished seventh in the 400m final with a time of 52.35 from lane 2.

Nugent, who set the Jamaican national record in the 100m hurdles with a 12.24 world-leading time in 2024, posted a time of 12.41(0.1 wind) as runner-up to a 12.34 career best for Megan Tapper with Amoi Brown third with a 12.67.

Maloney was the lone runner to finish with a time under 2 minutes in the 800m final. Kelly Ann Beckford was the top Jamaican in the field as she ran 2:00.23 as runner-up with Gladys Chepngetich third in 2:00.73 while Natoya Goule Toppin finished fourth in 2:00.97.