NCAA 400m Champ Lynna Irby Turns Pro

Apr 05, 2019

Lynna Irby of Georgia after the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

By Lincoln Shryack - FloTrack

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2018 NCAA outdoor 400m champion Lynna Irby of Georgia is turning professional, the 20-year-old announced in an Instagram post on Thursday afternoon. Irby has not yet signed with a shoe sponsor, but she will forego her collegiate eligibility by hiring an agent.

View this post on Instagram

I want to first of all thank Coach Petros (Kyprianou) for helping to bring me to the University of Georgia and to AT (Althea Thomas) for training me over the last two years. I had the opportunity to win an individual national title and a team national title and both of those were unforgettable experiences that I will treasure forever. I want to also thank UGA and the Athletic Association for giving me the opportunity with a scholarship to run track and further my education at a high-level institution. After much discussion with my family and prayers, we feel like this is the appropriate time for me to pursue my personal goals of competing professionally on the track. With that being said, I will forgo the remainder of my eligibility at UGA and will sign with an agent so I can begin training for my professional career. I realize the importance of a college education and look forward to finishing my degree in the near future. Thanks again to all of the Bulldog Nation for their support. I will never forget my time in Athens -Lynna Irby

A post shared by Lynna Irby (@monalynna__smile) on Apr 4, 2019 at 2:02pm PDT

With her surprising announcement, Irby becomes the second high-profile NCAA sophomore to abruptly go pro in the middle of the 2019 track season. Texas A&M NCAA 800m champion Sammy Watson ended her collegiate career to turn professional just weeks before the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships, while Irby competed just last weekend for the Bulldogs at the Florida Relays.

Like it was for Watson, the timing of this decision is curious for Irby. The sophomore from Indianapolis had a somewhat underwhelming indoor campaign, and she was visibly upset with her fifth place 400m finish at last month's NCAA Indoor Championships. Whether or not her frustration with a lackluster season had anything to do with her early departure is a matter of speculation, but the choice to leave school just days after her first outdoor meet suggests a sudden change of plans.

It is unclear as of yet who will coach Irby as she makes her transition to the professional ranks, but it does not appear that she will continue working with the Georgia staff.

"I want to, first of all, thank Coach Petros (Kyprianou) for helping to bring me to the University of Georgia and to AT (Althea Thomas) for training me over the last two years," Irby wrote.

"Thanks again to all of the Bulldog Nation for their support. I will never forget my time in Athens." Georgia head coach Petros Kyprianou tweeted his support for Irby on Thursday.

Thank YOU Lynna for helping us elevate our sprints group
& helping us win the first ever ncaa title while being a great bulldawg! We love you & will cheer for you at every step of your journey!Go Lynna, Go Dawgs!! https://t.co/7Slj62ndZe
-- Petros Kyprianou (@petrosdeca) April 4, 2019

Even though she was overshadowed at times by fellow SEC freshman phenom Sydney McLaughlin in 2018, Irby established herself as one of the top quarter-milers in NCAA history last June with her stunning 49.80 performance in Eugene. The time is the second-fastest ever in the NCAA.