Taylor breaks Jamaican, Arkansas records for NACAC 800m bronze

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama – Razorback Tyrice Taylor broke the Jamaican national record and Arkansas school record in placing third with a time of 1 minute, 43.74 seconds in the 800m final at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Senior Championships on Saturday evening.

Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney, representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines, collected a silver medal in the women’s 800m with a time of 1:59.98 as American Nia Akins claimed gold in 1:59.75. Jamaica’s Kelly-Ann Beckford placed third in 2:00.17.

Entering the meet with a career best of 1:45.23, Taylor was attempting to better the World Athletics standard of 1:44.50 to qualify for September’s World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

His effort in placing third bettered the Jamaican national record of 1:44.40 set by Navasky Anderson this summer. Anderson produced a PR of 1:44.18 in placing fourth in the NACAC race. Taylor also broke the Arkansas school record of 1:44.97 set in 1995 by Brandon Rock.

Penn State’s Handal Roban of St. Vincent and the Grenadines won the 800m race in a national record of 1:42.87, which ranks No. 2 performer on the all-dates, all-time collegiate list. Brandon Miller of the United States finished second in 1:43.15.

Taylor’s 1:43.74 ranks as equal No. 11 on the all-dates, all-time collegiate list with Earl Jones of Eastern Michigan from 1984.

In the men’s long jump, alum LaQuan Nairn finished fourth with a mark of 25-8.75 (7.84). Nia Robinson placed sixth in the women’s long jump with a leap of 20-10.5 (6.36).

Alum Nickisha Pryce of Jamaica led the 400m prelims on Friday with a time of 50.39 and will race in the final on Sunday. Krissy Gear is scheduled to race in the 3,000m steeplechase on Sunday as well.