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Brianna Lyston Bids Farewell to LSU, Set To Begin Professional Journey
Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in NCAA Athletics. | 05 June 2025 | 1656 Views
Tags: Brianna Lyston, Dennis Shaver, Lsu, Ncaa Athletics

Jamaican sprint star Brianna Lyston has officially ended her collegiate career at Louisiana State University (LSU), bringing the curtain down on a journey filled with promise, pain, and ultimately, purpose. The 2022 World U20 200m champion indirectly announced her decision to turn professional this week, confirming earlier reports by Sportsmax.TV in May.

With the NCAA academic year now complete, Lyston penned an emotional farewell to the LSU Tigers program on Thursday, expressing gratitude for her time in Baton Rouge and the people who shaped her experience.

“As I close this chapter of my journey, I want to take a moment to thank LSU for three unforgettable years filled with growth, memories, and moments I’ll carry with me forever,” she wrote on Instagram. “This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. Geaux Tigers!”

Lyston, 20, was one of the most highly-touted young sprinters entering the NCAA system, having won gold in the 200m at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia. She showed flashes of brilliance during her time at LSU, most notably during the 2024 indoor season when she captured the SEC and NCAA titles in the 60m, marking her as one of the fastest women in collegiate history.

However, her outdoor campaign never materialized in 2024 due to injury setbacks.

“She hasn’t run at all this outdoor season because she was slightly injured at the NCAA Indoors,” LSU Head Coach Dennis Shaver told Sportsmax.TV in early May. “And it’s my understanding that she has decided to forgo her collegiate eligibility and that she’s going to turn professional.”

While her time on the NCAA stage was brief, Lyston leaves LSU with a résumé that includes conference titles, a national championship, and one of the most exciting upside projections in global sprinting. Her top-end speed and championship pedigree made her a standout even before she arrived in Baton Rouge, with performances at Champs and the World U20 level that hinted at world-class potential.

In her farewell message, Lyston thanked her coaches, teammates, and the LSU community for their unwavering support.

“To my coaches, thank you for believing in me, pushing me, and guiding me every step of the way. Your support has meant everything,” she wrote. “But above all, I’m most thankful for the friendships… bonds that became family.”

As she now enters the professional ranks, Lyston joins a growing wave of Jamaican women sprinters poised to carry the nation’s sprint legacy forward. With the World Athletics Championships on the horizon, the timing of her move could signal a push for senior team inclusion, depending on health and form.

Whatever comes next, Lyston’s LSU chapter is closed—but her story is far from finished.