BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU Track & Field program announced 10 signings since National Singing Day on November 8 to close out 2023.
Laila Campbell
Sprints | Spring Grove, Pa. | Spring Grove Area High School
Heading into the final year of her high school career, the 6’ 0” sprinter currently holds 16 All-American honors. In the 100-meter dash Campbell holds a personal-best time of 11.24 seconds, looking to go below 11 during her senior season before arriving in Baton Rouge. She was also crowned the 2021-22 Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.
Paul Catalanatto
Throws | Baton Rouge, La. | Catholic High School
Catalanatto, one of the best throwers in the state and the nation, will be joining three javelin throwers from Louisiana in Tzuriel Pedigo, Jack Larriviere, and Jackson Rimes. The 2023 state champion threw the javelin 15 feet further than his nearest in-state competitor during the last season, and finished second at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in Eugene, Oregon with a season best throw of 63.92 meters (209’ 8”).
Ahry Comer
Mid-Distance | Brookport, Ill. | Pope County High School
Comer has been one of the most successful runners to come through the southern Illinois area in years, winning two state championships in the 400 and 800 meters as a junior. The middle-distance star currently holds personal-best times of 56.85 (400), 2:09.95 (800), and 4:59.69 (3200) prior to her senior season.
Gabriella Cunningham
Sprints | Aurora, Colo. | Grandview High School
A three-time Colorado State Champion, Cunningham will look to boost the Tiger’s sprints and hurdles groups when she arrives for the 2024-25 season. She holds personal-best times of 8.51 seconds (60mH), 13.69 seconds (100mH), and 42.36 (300mH).
Kameron Franklin
Jumps | Glenn Heights, Texas | Red Oak High School
The Tigers and Coach Todd Lane got a very talented combo-jumper in Kameron Franklin. The 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals Champion in high jump holds a personal-best height of 2.14 meters (7’ 0.25”), as well as a personal-best distance of 7.01 meters (23’ 0”) in long jump.
Makeriah Harris
Sprints/Hurdles | Baton Rouge, La. | Scotlandville Magnet High School
Harris has already solidified herself as the best hurdler in state history after her record setting junior season. The Louisiana 100-meter hurdle and 300-meter hurdle record holder will join the most prestigious hurdle school in the Fall of 2024. The nation’s top hurdler holds personal-best times of 13.18 seconds (100mH) and 40.76 seconds (300mH), both replacing what were once Alia Armstrong’s records. Harris is a nine-time state champion and will look to continue adding more hardware in her final season at Scotlandville Magnet High School.
Anna Pierce
Distance | Huntsville, Ala. | Whitesburg Christian Academy
Pierce heads into her final track season after claiming the 2023 Alabama 3A Individual State Champion title in cross country. The distance star will aid the cross-country and track teams when she arrives in Baton Rouge; as she holds personal-best times of 5:12.77 (1600m), 5:14.34 (one mile), 11:15.53 (3200m), and 18:00.75 (5000m).
Djoma Praise
Jumps | Warri, Nigeria | Yakub Memorial Secondary School
Looking to continue the success of the Nigerian to Baton Rouge pipeline, Djoma Praise will arrive early to aid the LSU jumps squad in the spring. In 2023 the Warri, Nigeria, native finished first in triple jump at both the Nigerian U18 Championships and the African U18 Championships. She closed out her year finishing third overall at the Nigerian National Championship. Her triple jump personal best is 13.15 meters (43’ 1.5”), which she set at the Nigerian U18 Championships in 2023.
Yuya Sawada
Mid-Distance | Hamamatsu City, Japan | Hamamatsu Shiritsu High School
Coach Houston Franks will be getting a huge addition to his talented middle-distance squad when Sawada arrives to Baton Rouge. The Japan native is a year removed from finishing sixth at the World U20 Championships with a time of 4:12.87 in the 1500 meter. Sawada also holds a personal-best time of 9:13.12 in the 3000 meter.
Nasya Williams
Sprints | Dallas, Texas | Desoto High School
The 2023 AAU Junior Olympics National Champion across 200 meters will look to continue the success of previous Dallas area high school sprinters at LSU. The Desoto sprinter enters her final year of high school with stellar personal-best times of 7.55 seconds (60m), 11.37 seconds (100m), and 23.29 seconds (200m).
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