Jamaican track sensation Brianna Lyston has embarked on her professional athletics career with a renewed sense of physical and mental preparedness, signaling promising prospects for the 2026 season. The 21-year-old sprinter made her professional debut at Saturday’s New Balance Indoor Meet in Boston, securing second place in the 60m event with a time of 7.11 seconds, narrowly behind British champion Dina Asher-Smith (7.08).
Lyston’s transition to professional track follows her signing with global sportswear giant Adidas, which concluded her NCAA eligibility at Louisiana State University. After nearly a year away from competition since her last race in March, the former world Under-20 champion has undertaken significant mental health work to prepare for her return to elite athletics.
The Jamaican athlete has joined Pure Athletics club in Florida under the tutelage of renowned coach Lance Brauman, who also mentors Olympic and World Champion Noah Lyles. Brauman’s patient, athlete-centered approach has provided Lyston with a supportive environment that prioritizes both performance and enjoyment of the sport.
Despite facing injury challenges throughout the previous year, Lyston reports substantial improvements in her overall condition. Her training focus has shifted to building a solid foundation while rediscovering her passion for sprinting.
Lyston’s collegiate performance at LSU established her as one of Jamaica’s most promising sprint talents. She recorded six sub-11-second 100m times in 2024, including a personal best of 10.84 seconds that ranked her as Jamaica’s fastest woman that year and the 13th fastest in history.
Though yet to compete at senior global or national championships, many Jamaican track enthusiasts view Lyston as a potential successor to sprint legends Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Elaine Thompson-Herah. The young athlete maintains a measured perspective on these expectations, consciously limiting her social media engagement to avoid external pressure while acknowledging the honor of being considered among Jamaica’s emerging talents.
Lyston’s competitive schedule remains undetermined, with decisions regarding potential participation in this summer’s Commonwealth Games pending further discussions with her coaching team. Her 2022 achievement as Jamaica’s third-ever World Under-20 200m champion—joining Veronica Campbell Brown and Briana Williams—demonstrates the pedigree she brings to her professional career.