Pryce Picks Up Big 12 Athlete of the Week Honors

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Logging the best long jump mark in the nation last weekend at the Tyson Invitational located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, junior Taishia Pryce was pegged as the Big 12 Women's Athlete of the Week, the conference announced today (February 19).

Pryce, who is from Kingston, Jamaica, recorded the second-best long jump in school history inside the Randal Tyson Track Center last week, leaping 6.65m/21-10.00 towards a first-place performance. This is Pryce's first weekly honor during the indoor season.

"I have been going through a lot the past few months," said Pryce. "Basically, you have to be strong minded to overcome that. We didn't believe that it would be easy to jump that (6.65m), but it happened, and we are very grateful and looking forward to Big 12s. I am looking forward to jumping more than that. I think I am capable of jumping at least 7 (meters). I am going to go out there and have fun and do whatever my coach tells me to do and see how it goes."

In the NCAA standings, Pryce sits just ahead of Texas A&M's Deborah Acquah, who houses a spot at second place with a mark of 6.58m/21-7.25 for the long jump.

"Since the moment Taishia stepped foot on our campus, I have felt that she is the most innately gifted athlete in our program," said Director of Track and Field Cliff Rovelto. "So, the marks she produces are not surprising to me. The challenge for her to being more consistent has been an issue of physical health. Hopefully, she can remain healthy and train consistently going forward. Then we will see special stuff."

Closing out the indoor segment of the weekly awards, the Wildcats will finish with four total accolades for the season. The four weekly awards are two more than the 2019 season. Other K-State athletes who have claimed weekly honors this season include senior Jullane Walker (60 meters), sophomore Kassidy Johnson (1000 meters) and senior Lauren Taubert (pentathlon).

As the indoor season enters its last stretch, the Wildcats will finish out their home schedule with the last meet inside Ahearn Field House this Saturday, February 22 as the team hosts the Steve Miller Open.

For the latest on K-State Track and Field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Taishia Pryce

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