Reigning Jamaican Under-20 400m champion and No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026 according to MileSplit, Skyler Franklin, is signing with the Louisiana State University (LSU), Head Coach Dennis Shaver announced on Monday. The 17-year-old Miramar, Florida native will add much-needed help to LSU's 400-meter group as soon as she steps on campus.

Currently a Class of 2026 member, Rise Preparatory Academy’s Franklin will likely reclassify and join the Tigers as soon as the Fall of 2025.

She has dual-citizenship between the USA and Jamaica, and chose to represent Jamaica last season as she heads forward with her career on the track.

The 400m star made waves across the world this past season, notably clocking the top-U18 time in the world of 51.01 seconds.

Her time made her the fastest sophomore in US history and the third-fastest 400m runner in US history.

Forty-four times an All-American as she looks to open up her junior season of high school, Franklin heads into 2025 with not even the sky as her limit.

Not only did she make waves on the high school scene in the US, she made it on the national level as she competed at the 2024 Jamaican U20 Championships.

Franklin clocked a time of 51.99 seconds to win the Jamaican U20 title across 400m, and also took silver in the 200m with a time of 23.16 seconds.

In the states this past season, Franklin was crowned the National Champion at the Nike Indoor Nationals where she ran 53.44 seconds in the 400m.

She also claimed the 4×400-meter relay title at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals with Montverde Academy with their time of 3:31.68.

After her sophomore season, Franklin holds personal bests of 7.46 seconds (60m), 11.44 seconds (100m), 23.00 seconds (200m), 37.56 seconds (300m), and 51.01 seconds (400m) at the age of 17.

Her 400m personal best puts her second on the all-time Jamaican U-20 list behind Sandie Richards’ 50.92 done back in 1987.

Photo courtesy of LSU Track and Field.