Chanice Chase-Taylor

Biography

Chanice Chase-Taylor has wanted to compete for Team Canada since watching Perdita Felicien and Priscilla Lopes-Schliep win their world and Olympic medals. After missing the 100m hurdles final at the 2009 IAAF World Youth Championships by just two spots, she established herself as one of Canada’s top young prospects in 2010. She competed in both the 100m hurdles and the 400m at the IAAF World Junior Championships, this time missing the 400m final by just two spots. Chase-Taylor was awarded the Myrtle Cook Trophy as 2010 Youth Athlete of the Year by Athletics Canada. An injury in her freshman year at Louisiana State University meant she only competed in one outdoor meet in 2012. But by 2014 she was a leading performer in the 400m hurdles, finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships and earning All-American honours. She entered the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Canada’s top-ranked 400m hurdler and advanced to the final. During the 2015 collegiate season she was an NCAA finalist in the 100m hurdles as she broke the 13-second barrier for the first time to finish sixth and earned her second All-American nod. She finished fourth in the 100m hurdles at the 2015 Canadian Championships. Chase-Taylor recorded personal best times in both the 100m hurdles (12.94 seconds) and 400m hurdles (54.94 seconds) in 2016. She made her Olympic debut at Rio 2016 in the 400m hurdles.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Robert Taylor and Sharon Chase… Her mother ran track while attending high school in Jamaica… Older sister Tynelle Taylor-Chase competed in track at the University of Albany… Getting into the Sport: Starting running track at age 13 at Dr. Roberts Bondar Public School in Ajax… Is a naturally competitive person who was attracted to the dedication it took to be great as well as the recognition and rewards… Outside Interests: Studying Sports Administration at Louisiana State University… Enjoys going to different restaurants, watching movies, listening to music, playing basketball, riding her bike, G-Kart racing… Odds and Ends: Nickname: CC… Has lucky necklace with a cross on it given to her by her father… Inspired by American Olympic champion Florence Griffith Joyner because she knew what she wanted and went after it regardless of the sacrifices she had to make… Likes to watch videos of her idols on YouTube the night before competing… Always travels with her Bible… Favourite quote: “Nothing is going to be handed to you, you have to make things happen” – Florence Griffith Joyner…