Pryce Attempting to Leave Her Mark on Last Big 12 Indoor
Feb 23, 2022 | Track & Field, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Taishia Pryce is an all-time top-10 performer in four different events in Kansas State history, but the native of Kingston, Jamaica will be looking to take home a league title in her first love — women's long jump — at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, which gets underway Friday in Ames, Iowa.
Pryce, a senior who earned First Team All-America honors in the long jump at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships, has battled various injuries over her career, but she has always overcome setbacks. In fact, she posted the best long jump mark in the nation in 2020.
Currently, she ranks seventh in nation with a long jump of 6.54 meters at the Texas Tech Open & Multis on January 28 — a mark that even impressed her given her limited preparation coming off a strained quadricep.
"I wasn't looking for a big jump, to be honest," she says. "I had one training prior to the event because of my strained quad, so I wasn't expecting anything big. It was a huge surprise — not huge because I know what I'm capable of, but huge because I hadn't trained because of the injury. It was overwhelming and exciting."
She will enter the Big 12 Championships just 0.01 meters off Texas Tech senior Ruth Usoro, who recorded a 6.55-meter long jump on February 11. Usoro ranks sixth in the nation.
"It's my last Big 12 Indoor, so I'm excited to see what I'll do," Pryce says. "I'm trying to win the Big 12, so I'm trying to leave a mark for my last Indoor."
Pryce has assuredly made her presence felt during her career with the Wildcats.
She is a two-time (2020-21) Indoor All-American in the long jump, a 2021 Second Team Outdoor All-American, and captured the 2019 Big Outdoor Long Jump Championship.
She ranks No. 2 all-time in the indoor long jump (6.65m), No. 5 in the 300 meters (39.27) and No. 5 in the 200 meters (24.02) in K-State indoor history. She also ranks No. 3 all-time in the long jump (6.54m) and No. 10 in the triple jump (12.90m) in K-State outdoor history.
"As for how things have gone for me this season? I've been good," she says. "Last year and the year before, I had injuries. This is the best year compared to my other years at K-State. It's been going great. I'm at 100% right now, so I'm grateful."
It's been quite a journey for Pryce, who says that she grew up in the "bad" part of Kingston, and first gained an interest in the long jump from watching other kids on the track while she played net ball, a popular sport in Jamaica. She pivoted and joined the track and field team, excelling so much at St. Andrew Technical High School that she placed third overall in the long jump among all boys and girls in Jamaica at the ISSA Grace Boys and Girls Championship.
Upon high school graduation, she went to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, which she says has a large Jamaican population. A three-time NAIA All-American, she became the first Wiley College NAIA National Champion in 2018 with a long jump of 6.25 meters.
A coaching connection put her in touch with K-State assistant coach Vincent Johnson and she brought her talents to Manhattan.
"I grew up in a very bad community, so my aim was to be one of those young girls who were able to come out and show that not everybody living in the ghetto is of the ghetto," she says. "Right now, I'm a role model for my community. A lot of people, young and old, look up to me because of the person I am today."
As for how Pryce has grown while at K-State?
"I've been very dedicated and eager to go for what I want," she says. "I had the opportunity to excel and get a high-level education. I'm going to take advantage of it. I've grown phenomenally during my six years in the United States and at K-State. I've been opened up to a lot and have learned a lot from Coach Johnson."
Pryce plans to graduate in marketing to go along with her other bachelor's degrees — in human resources and organizational management. She plans to pursue her master's degree in elementary education while training unattached as a pro athlete with Johnson. Her goal is to represent Jamaica in the World Championships.
For now, all thoughts remain focused on hopefully earning a Big 12 Championship this weekend.
"I wouldn't trade this event for anything," she says. "I have a passion for long jump, and I just think that it is the love of my life and I cherish every moment I get on that runway. I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity."
Taishia Pryce is an all-time top-10 performer in four different events in Kansas State history, but the native of Kingston, Jamaica will be looking to take home a league title in her first love — women's long jump — at the Big 12 Indoor Track and Field Championships, which gets underway Friday in Ames, Iowa.
Pryce, a senior who earned First Team All-America honors in the long jump at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Championships, has battled various injuries over her career, but she has always overcome setbacks. In fact, she posted the best long jump mark in the nation in 2020.
Currently, she ranks seventh in nation with a long jump of 6.54 meters at the Texas Tech Open & Multis on January 28 — a mark that even impressed her given her limited preparation coming off a strained quadricep.
"I wasn't looking for a big jump, to be honest," she says. "I had one training prior to the event because of my strained quad, so I wasn't expecting anything big. It was a huge surprise — not huge because I know what I'm capable of, but huge because I hadn't trained because of the injury. It was overwhelming and exciting."
She will enter the Big 12 Championships just 0.01 meters off Texas Tech senior Ruth Usoro, who recorded a 6.55-meter long jump on February 11. Usoro ranks sixth in the nation.
"It's my last Big 12 Indoor, so I'm excited to see what I'll do," Pryce says. "I'm trying to win the Big 12, so I'm trying to leave a mark for my last Indoor."
Pryce has assuredly made her presence felt during her career with the Wildcats.
She is a two-time (2020-21) Indoor All-American in the long jump, a 2021 Second Team Outdoor All-American, and captured the 2019 Big Outdoor Long Jump Championship.
She ranks No. 2 all-time in the indoor long jump (6.65m), No. 5 in the 300 meters (39.27) and No. 5 in the 200 meters (24.02) in K-State indoor history. She also ranks No. 3 all-time in the long jump (6.54m) and No. 10 in the triple jump (12.90m) in K-State outdoor history.
"As for how things have gone for me this season? I've been good," she says. "Last year and the year before, I had injuries. This is the best year compared to my other years at K-State. It's been going great. I'm at 100% right now, so I'm grateful."
It's been quite a journey for Pryce, who says that she grew up in the "bad" part of Kingston, and first gained an interest in the long jump from watching other kids on the track while she played net ball, a popular sport in Jamaica. She pivoted and joined the track and field team, excelling so much at St. Andrew Technical High School that she placed third overall in the long jump among all boys and girls in Jamaica at the ISSA Grace Boys and Girls Championship.
Upon high school graduation, she went to Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, which she says has a large Jamaican population. A three-time NAIA All-American, she became the first Wiley College NAIA National Champion in 2018 with a long jump of 6.25 meters.
A coaching connection put her in touch with K-State assistant coach Vincent Johnson and she brought her talents to Manhattan.
"I grew up in a very bad community, so my aim was to be one of those young girls who were able to come out and show that not everybody living in the ghetto is of the ghetto," she says. "Right now, I'm a role model for my community. A lot of people, young and old, look up to me because of the person I am today."
As for how Pryce has grown while at K-State?
"I've been very dedicated and eager to go for what I want," she says. "I had the opportunity to excel and get a high-level education. I'm going to take advantage of it. I've grown phenomenally during my six years in the United States and at K-State. I've been opened up to a lot and have learned a lot from Coach Johnson."
Pryce plans to graduate in marketing to go along with her other bachelor's degrees — in human resources and organizational management. She plans to pursue her master's degree in elementary education while training unattached as a pro athlete with Johnson. Her goal is to represent Jamaica in the World Championships.
For now, all thoughts remain focused on hopefully earning a Big 12 Championship this weekend.
"I wouldn't trade this event for anything," she says. "I have a passion for long jump, and I just think that it is the love of my life and I cherish every moment I get on that runway. I'm going to take advantage of every opportunity."
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