Meet season is soon to go underway for LSU track and field as the team will host its first indoor meet at home on Friday at the Carl Maddox Field House.
With another season around the corner, the Tigers have multiple returners who are looking to improve their personal record race and event times.
For the men’s team, junior Jaiden Reid returns as one of the top sprinters on the roster after a breakout season last year. Reid made a name for himself with multiple all-time performances in LSU’s indoor history. He ran a 6.56-second 60-meter dash in the NCAA Championship to place third. In addition, Reid clocked a 20.27-second 200-meter dash to place second overall.
Senior sprinters Jahiem Stern, Myles Thomas and Matthew Sophia set personal records last season as well. Stern recorded his best indoor season by far, finishing the 60-meter hurdles in fifth overall in the NCAA Indoor Championship.
Thomas clocked his season-best hurdle time during the last indoor season, running a 6.66-second 60-meter race in the SEC Indoor Championship. Sophia closed the same championship with a 12th-place overall performance in the 60-meter hurdles.
In terms of the LSU women, the future of its indoor achievements looks bright. Junior Tima Godbless returns along with senior Ella Onojuvwevwo as the two leading sprinters from last year’s lineup.
Godbless clocked the sixth-best 60-meter dash time in the world during the Tyson Invitational last year, running 7.08 seconds and placing third in LSU’s performance history.
Onojuvwevwo will start her final indoor season after earning first-team All-American honors to close out 2025. In the NCAA Indoor Championship, she earned the Tigers a fourth-place finish in the distance-medley relay with a time of 10:47.17. She also finished eighth in the 400-meter dash, running a 52.18-second sprint.
Sophomore Edna Chepkemoi returns as a young but talented distance runner, boasting a first-place spot in the 3000-meter distance race in LSU’s all-time performances.
Senior Ella Chesnut will compete in her final indoor season as a Tiger to support distance efforts. In the first indoor meet last year, Chesnut ran a personal best 4:53.00 mile to finish in third place.
Outside of the program’s returners, LSU has picked up numerous athletes in the off-season to prepare for the indoor and outdoor seasons ahead.
Recently, the Tigers signed Adeyah Brewster, a five-time Barbadian national champion who will look to leave her mark on the roster. She previously ran for Minnesota State Mankato, and in her time there, collected two NCAA titles in long jump and hurdles. In addition, Brewster has earned 10 All-American honors throughout her career.
The Tigers also signed a six-time Guyanaese champion, Keliza Smith, who will later run in purple and gold for LSU’s outdoor season in March.
With the first meet just a few days away, it’s clear this will be an exciting season for track and field as they look to transition into competitive seasons. As returners look to break their records and newcomers look to set their own, head coach Dennis Shaver has himself a well-built roster.
