The last time he competed in the Jamaican Championships was in 2022, when he finished 6th in round 1 of heat 3 with a time of 47.84 seconds. Three years later, he came back to the championships as a track and field star for Arkansas and raced to the title. He moved from fourth to first in the final 70m of the 800m race, winning in a time of 1:45.26 over Handal Roban of St. Vincent (1:45.31). But there were disappointments for him in the race, and later he confessed to his struggles…
“I wanted to get the qualified time, but unfortunately, I didn’t get it. But I think it’s a good race. After two years, it’s my first time coming back to Jamaica and competing, so it’s a good feeling,” said Arkansas track and field star, Tyrice Taylor, in an interview after his 800m title win. He did win with a time of 1:45.26, which is still about 0.76 seconds slower than the automatic entry standard of 1:44.50 for Tokyo. At first, he moved to the U.S. collegiate system, joining Indian Hills Community College for the 2022–2023 season, where he earned NJCAA medals.
Later, on May 7, 2024, he officially transferred from Indian Hills CC to the University of Arkansas. He also recalled setting a new personal best earlier this month and coming close to breaking the national indoor record in February. In June 2025, during the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Taylor set a new outdoor personal best of 1:45.23 in the semifinals. At the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville on February 14–15, 2025, Tyrice Taylor ran an impressive 1:46.62 in the indoor 800m to win the invitational.
This was just 0.01 seconds shy of the Jamaican national indoor record of 1:46.61, which was set by Tarees Rhoden in February 2023. Citing all that, the question was whether his indoor season helped him in his outdoor one, to which he replied, “Indoors…It’s kinda harder because I think I don’t get enough oxygen when I’m indoors, but it helps me in a way that I get more control over each 200.” Taylor did miss the qualification standard, but he will be in Tokyo because he won the 800m title. The rule says, “The Area Champions in all the individual events (except for the Marathons) on condition that there is no better entry (by World Rankings) of another athlete from the same Area in the same event.”
Razorback Tyrice Taylor comments on winning the 800m final at the Jamaica National Championships
Taylor wins the final in 1:45.26, just off his career best of 1:45.23 set during the NCAA Outdoor semifinal pic.twitter.com/I4mbPDwfqW
— RazorbackTF/XC (@RazorbackTF) June 29, 2025
He talked of going back to training when we were asked about how he would go to the World championships. “I’mma go back to my coach and try to fix something that is seen needs to be fixed,” he said. His coach, Chris Bucknam, is in his 17th season as the head coach of the nationally dominant Arkansas men’s cross country and track and field program. And he must be doing something right because Arkansas aced at the championships.
Triple triumph for Arkansas track and field at the Jamaican National Championship
The Jamaican National Championship has been going crazy.
Tyler, despite missing the qualification time, is already there. Romaine Beckford cleared 2.25 m (7‑4.5 ft) in the high jump finals, claiming the Jamaican high jump crown on his third attempt and even seeking to challenge 2.28 m. His winning clearance also earned him a spot among Jamaica’s representatives at the upcoming World Championships. Jerome Campbell stormed through the 110 m hurdles semifinals in 13.33 s (+0.4), advancing as the sixth-fastest overall and setting the stage for Sunday’s final. If he can pull it off, the number for Arkansas is going to be four. Can he do it? Share your thoughts.
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