Two-time national 400m champion Nickisha Pryce has her sights firmly set on securing a medal at this month’s Olympic Games in Paris, France, a feat that would put her in rarified air.

Pryce, 23, has been enjoying an outstanding season and is considered a strong medal contender for Jamaica in the women’s one-lap event at the championships. She enters the event with the second-fastest time in the world this year in the quarter-mile, with her time of 48.89s. Only American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, with a time of 48.75s, has run faster than Pryce this season.

If it all goes to form, the pocket-sized dynamo will become only Jamaica’s third medallist in the event at the Olympic Games, following in the strides of Sydney 2000 silver medallist Lorraine Fenton (nee Graham) and two-time medal winner Shericka Jackson, who won silver in Beijing in 2008, and bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Pryce, the reigning NCAA Division 1 400m champion and the national record holder, told the Jamaica Observer that she is focused on confirming her pedigree and bringing home a medal for Jamaica in the event this year.

“My aim for Paris is to be on the podium, and I am ready for it,” Pryce declared. “I feel good about making the team and now I just want to stay healthy and fit for the Games.”

“I am just going to listen to what my coach tells me, and once I do that, I know everything will fall into place,” she added.

Pryce, a semi-finalist at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest — her maiden senior international championship, set the national record last month at the NCAA Division 1 Championships in Oregon, with her winning time of 48.89 seconds surpassing the previous Jamaican record of 49.30s set by Lorraine Fenton in July 2002.

Pryce, who recently joined the professional ranks after signing with global sportswear brand Puma upon completing her studies at the University of Arkansas this year, secured her second national title with a solid time of 50.01s at the National Stadium recently.

Reflecting on her successful season so far, Pryce attributed her achievements to hard work and dedication.

“Honestly, I am speechless because I never expected it, but I have been training all season to break the Jamaican record, and I finally did it, so I am grateful,” she remarked.

“I feel good knowing that I have a long season ahead, and to win another National Championship means a lot to me,” Pryce added. “I don’t think there will be any pressure on me at the Olympics because I just want to stay healthy and continue on this path for the rest of the season,” she stated.

Pryce already has a global medal in her collection after helping Jamaica to the silver medal in the 4x400m relays at the World Athletics championships last year.