Lynna Irby Excelling on the International Scene


12x Indiana State Champion and Pike High School grad, Lynna Irby is beginning to take the pro field by storm. Over the past week, Irby has raced twice in international competitions, first in Monaco in the 400m last Friday and then in Hungary in the 200m on Wednesday. 

In her first 400m race in over a year, Irby won in an impressive world leading time of 50.50. This race was the first international race of 2020, with all other races being delayed or cancelled due to COVID-19. Irby took over the world lead from one of her own training partners in Florida, Bahamas' Shaunae Miller-Uibo who had run 50.52 on July 4th at the Showdown in OTown. Miller-Uibo is the 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400. 


2-thumbs up from Irby after winning the 200 in Hungary

The 21-year-old sprinter had another meet to get to though, this time in Hungary in the 200m. Irby set out for another win, and got just that, coming across in 22.55 from lane 7. This performance may very well be more impressive than her world leading 400 time, as she beat 2-time World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Dafne Schipper of the Netherlands. Schipper took 2nd in 22.94. 

While this performance doesn't move her up in the world ranks, Irby does currently hold the No. 5 200m time of the year with a 22.47 from the Back to the Track meet held at the end of July in Florida. 

Lynna Irby will look to qualify for her first Olympic team next year. Right now it is unclear which event will be her main focus, but she seems to have good options in both the 400m and the 200m.