Lynna Irby-Jackson (born December 6, 1998)[1] is an American track and field sprinter who competes in the 100m, 200m, and 400m dash events. At the 400m dash, she set an all-time world record at the age of 12 running 54.57 before becoming the fastest American 400m high school runner in the last 20 years. She gained 16 national titles from Jr Olympic and Youth National meets. Irby has won silver medals in the event at both the 2015 World Youth Championships and the 2016 World Junior Championships.

Lynna Irby
Irby in 2018
Personal information
Full nameLynna Irby-Jackson
Born (1998-12-06) December 6, 1998 (age 25)
Sport
CountryAmerican
SportTrack and field
EventSprint
College teamGeorgia Bulldogs
Clubadidas
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo 4×400 m relay
Bronze medal – third place 2020 Tokyo 4×400 m mixed
World Athletics Relays
Gold medal – first place 2024 Nassau 4×400 m relay
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place 2019 Lima 4 × 400 m
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Lima 4 × 100 m
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2016 Bydgoszcz 4 × 100 m
Gold medal – first place 2016 Bydgoszcz 4 × 400 m
Silver medal – second place 2016 Bydgoszcz 400 m
World Youth Championships
Gold medal – first place 2015 Cali 4 × 400 m mixed
Silver medal – second place 2015 Cali 400 m
Updated on 16 June 2021[1]

Career

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Irby started running track at the age of nine for the Indiana Storm Track Club. She attended Pike High School, where she won Gatorade Player of the year for the state of Indiana in 2015 and in 2016. She was also awarded the 2016 Indiana Sports Award presented by the Indianapolis Star newspaper, and earned Pike High School's MVP 3 years straight. Irby led her high school team to runner up at the state meet her Freshman year earning 30 individual points. Her sophomore year Irby again earned 30 individual points plus anchored the 4X400 team securing the state championship win for Pike. Irby's Junior year at Pike HS, she once again earned 30 individual points and anchored on the 4X400 but it wasn't enough to beat the Lady Warriors of Warren Central High School.[2]

She gained 16 national titles from Jr Olympic and Youth National meets and made world teams for the 2015 World Youth Championships and the 2016 World U20 Championships. While representing USA, Irby got the silver in the 400 meters running 51.79 (U18 – 2015) and 51.39 (U20 – 2016). She also ran on the 4X400 relay both years winning gold and in the 4X100 prelim (U20 – 2016) also winning gold.

Irby took several AP and Honor courses while in High School and maintained a high GPA. Nationally the Class of 2017 has many top track and field recruits such as Katia Seymour, Lauren Rain Williams (100m runners), Lauryn Ghee, Jayla Kirkland (200m runners), and Sydney McLaughlin (400M-Hurdler), Sammy Watson (800m runner). Irby was listed in all 3 sprints as one of the top recruits but the absolute top recruit in the 400m of this national graduating class by Milesplit.[3]

Irby is 45–0 in the state of Indiana postseason having won 9 individual state titles in all sprints. Olympic Gold Medalist Maicel Malone finished her North Central HS track career with 11-12 individual state titles in the 1980s. Irby finished with 12-12 by the end of her Pike high school career in 2017 by sweeping all 3 sprints all 4 years of high school, becoming the first one to ever sweep all 3 sprints all 4 years of high school. Irby owns the Indiana indoor state record in the 60m with a Personal Best of 7.46 (2016) and the 100m outdoor record at 11.41 (2017).

Achievements

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International competitions

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing the   United States
2015 World Youth Championships Cali, Colombia 2nd 400 m 51.79 PB
1st 4 × 400 m mixed 3:19.54
2016 World Junior Championships Bydgoszcz, Poland 2nd 400 m 51.39 PB
1st 4 × 100 m 44.31 [n 1]
1st 4 × 400 m 3:29.11 WJL
2019 Pan American Games Lima, Peru (heats) 200 m 23.93
3rd 4 × 100 m 43.39
1st 4 × 400 m 3:26.46
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 1st (h) 4 × 400 m 3:20.86
2022 World Indoor Championships Belgrade, Serbia 15th (h) 400 m 52.78
4th 4 × 400 m 3:28.63
World Championships Eugene, United States 12th (sf) 400 m 51.00
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary 8th (sf) 400 m 50.71
4 × 400 m relay DQ
  1. ^ Time from the heats; Irby was replaced in the final.

National competitions

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Year Competition Position Event Time
Representing Pike High School
2014 IHSAA Indiana State Track & Field Championships[4] 1st 400 m 54.38
1st 200 m 24.07
1st 100 m 11.61
2015 IHSAA Indiana State Track & Field Championships[5] 1st 400 m 54.96
1st 200 m 24.23
1st 100 m 11.68
2016 IHSAA Indiana State Track & Field Championships[6] 1st 400 m 53.71
1st 200 m 23.53
1st 100 m 11.50
2017 IHSAA Indiana State Track & Field Championships[7] 1st 400 m 54.81
1st 200 m 23.41
1st 100 m 11.41
Representing University of Georgia
2018 NCAA Div 1 Indoor Track & Field Championships[8] 3rd 400 m 50.87
3rd 200 m 22.55
NCAA Div 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships[9] 1st 400 m 49.80
3rd 200 m 22.92

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lynna IRBY – Athlete Profile". World Athletics. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  2. ^ "Lynna Irby adds to state title haul, Warren Central wins team crown". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  3. ^ "National Signing Day: Girls Live Commitment Updates". MileSplit United States. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  4. ^ "2014 IHSAA Girls State Meet Championship Results - 6/06/2014 Robert C. Haugh Complex, Bloomington, IN" (PDF). June 6, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "2015 IHSAA Girls State Meet Championship Results - 6/06/2015 Robert C. Haugh Complex, Bloomington, IN". June 6, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  6. ^ "2016 IHSAA Girls State Meet Championship Results - 6/03/2016 Robert C. Haugh Complex, Bloomington, IN" (PDF). June 3, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "2017 IHSAA Girls State Meet Championship Results - 6/03/2017 Robert C. Haugh Complex, Bloomington, IN" (PDF). June 3, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "2018 WOMEN'S FINALS - NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS Results - Gilliam Track Stadium, College Station, TX". March 9–10, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "2018 WOMEN'S FINALS - NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS Results - Historic Hayward Field, Eugene, OR". June 6–9, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
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