LSU Track and Field Signs Three-Time World U20 Medalist, Arkansas Razorbacks Transfer

BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU women’s track and field program is signing University of Arkansas’s Shawnti Jackson, Head Coach Dennis Shaver announced on Wednesday.

The North Carolina native graduated from high school in 2023 as one of the most promising prospects the world had seen in track and field.

Leaving for college as the United States’ high school national-record holder in the 50 meter (6.26), 55 meter (6.67), 60 meter (7.16), 100 meter (10.89) and 300 meter (36.63).

She was also the No. 2 outdoor 200-meter runner in US high school history with the time of 22.35 seconds. The time of 10.89 seconds in the 100m is the world record for an 18-year-old.

During her time in high school, Jackson claimed two Pan American U20 Championship titles with 22.35 in the 200m and 42.88 in the 4×100-meter relay in 2023.

She was also the USA U20 Champion in the 200m with 22.48 at the 2023 edition.

LSU Tigers Track and Field. — Jul 9, 2023; Eugene, OR, USA; Shawnti Jackson wins the U20 women's 200m in a meet record 22.48 during the USATF Championships at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

At the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships the sprint star claimed gold in the 4×400-meter relay, silver in the 4×100 and bronze in the 100m.

The same season she claimed her first USA U20 title in the 100m with the time of 11.07 seconds in the final.

Jackson has been with Arkansas since the 2024 season and will enter the 2026 track season as a redshirt sophomore in both outdoors and indoors.

She ended her 2025 season clocking a wind-aided collegiate best of 11.05 seconds (+2.2 m/s) at the NCAA West First Round prelims.

She earned two Second Team All-American honors at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships as a freshman with top-16 finishes in the 60m and 200m.

While at Arkansas, she also split 50.52 seconds on an indoor 4×400-meter relay.

The split of 50.52 seconds is the second-fastest collegiate indoor leg all time and equals for third in world history indoors.

LSU Tigers Adding Talent to Upcoming Squad

The LSU women’s distance program is signing Abigael Chemnagei, Head Coach Dennis Shaver announced in July.

Chemnagei is a talented distance runner hailing from Kapenguria, Kenya. She will join fellow Kenyan, Edna Chepkemoi, this season as they make their debuts for the cross-country team in the Fall.

The incoming freshman is fresh off of clocking a personal-best time of 15:29.55 in the 5000 meter at The Lightning meet in Germany.

The time of 15:29.55 is well below the LSU record of 15:44.41, set by Laura Carleton in 2013 at the Mt. Sac Relays.

Her PR also would’ve ranked No. 4 in the SEC and near the top 20 in the NCAA this past outdoor season.

At the 2025 Kenyan Cross-Country Championships, Chemnagei clocked a time of 7:28 in the 2.0km to finish 12th overall.

She also holds a personal-best time of 4:25.39 in the 1500 meter, which she clocked this season in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Tigers have made a lot of progress as a distance program in the years since Coach Houston Franks arrived and they will be looking to make a push this upcoming cross-country season for the NCAA Championships.

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