NCAA Indoor Championships: 19-Year-Old Jamaican Makes History After Defeating American Competitor

Brianna Lyston’s hefty run toward the Paris Olympics berth in 2024 started in January. In the dual meet against the Arkansas Razorbacks, she stormed into the finishing mark with a time of 7.07 seconds in the 60m indoor. In the collegiate history of track and field, the 19-year-old Jamaican could match up that timing with spearheads like Aleia Hobbs. However, the grinning teenager refused to be satisfied with that achievement. She eyed for more, at the behest of her Paris Olympics 2024 preparation. 

Eventually, Brianna Lyston had it last night in the NCAA Division 1 track and field indoor championship. Her 60m timing proved to be faster, enough to reign over the records again, sweeping her American counterparts.

Brianna Lyston shaves off 0.04 seconds in just one month 

Last evening in Boston, Brianna Lyston took 7.03 seconds in the 60m NCAA indoor event to topple the American challenger, Kaila Jackson. But ecstatically, apart from being the personal best, that timing shifted Brianna’s name to the second position in the 60m all-time top list. The X-handle of Track and Field Gazette published the list of all those women who carved their name in the NCAA indoor 60m event. So, in that list, the timing difference between Brianna Lyston and the World Indoor champion, Julien Alfred, remains 0.09 seconds. Not just that, several other records came into the vicinity as well. 

As Kayon Raynor minutely penned the comparison, after yesterday, the 19-year-old would find Jamaican greats Merlene Ottey, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Veronica Campbell Brown before her in the 60m event. Expectedly, Brianna Lyston couldn’t hide her joy after watching herself entering the record book. Her mother’s presence in the strands made the occasion more perfect. 

“It means a lot to me, especially because my mom’s here. This is her first meet from I have been in LSU… Have something to smile about”, the daughter expressed. Right after that, the host questioned her about the contributions from the LSU and Jamaican sprinting spheres. Considering Aleia Hobbs and Mikiah Brisco’s effect on her, the 60m champion added, “Every day they push me.” Now, the NCAA indoor journey would leap for the Paris Olympics journey. 

The NCAA indoor experience paves the way for Olympic participation 

LSU track and field HC, Dennis Shaver keeps his high hopes on the Jamaican prodigy. As per him, Brianna Lyston’s next destination will be the Jamaican trial for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The 7.07 timing in that January meet compelled the judicious coach to count her in Olympic berths in both 100m and 200m events. 

Read more: NCAA Track and Field News: Nico Young Reflects Back on Winning Tactics After 5000m Win: “I’ve Been Practicing”

“She’s going to be ready, and she’s going to be able to run at the Jamaican trials and try to make the Olympic team. That’s just one of the goals now,” he said from his pupil’s perspective. But many famed sprinters in the Jamaican lineup may jeopardize the NCAA indoor champion’s dream. 

But Shaver counted on the proverbial experience. “I think, the younger you are to make an Olympic team and be able to perform at Olympic level, it is one more year of experience you have for the next time that rolls around,” he elaborated. Now, things are in the first lane. 

Also read: Road to Paris 2024: Track and Field Star Georgia Bell’s Olympic Dreams Boosted by Nike