NCAA Track and Field: Who Is LSU’s Michaela Rose? – The New Collegiate 600m Record Holder

As the 2024 NCAA outdoor track and field season unfolds, one young track star has been making waves. Weeks after breaking the collegiate indoor 600-yard record, on January 20, 20-year-old Michaela Rose showed her dominance in the outdoor season as well.

The LSU track and field team made a thunderous start to their home-outdoor schedule by hosting the Keyth Talley Invitational at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium, where Rose once again left her mark. Setting yet another US collegiate track record, her achievements deserve closer scrutiny. Let’s delve deeper into the story of this Suffolk, Virginia, native and her remarkable string of accomplishments.

Who is LSU’s track and field prodigy, 20-year-old Michaela Rose?

Michaela Rose added another feather to her cap by setting a new record in the 600-meter race with a blistering time of 1:25.75 at the Keyth Talley Invitational in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This feat saw Rose surpass the previous collegiate record, set at 1 minute and 28.02 seconds by former Texas A&M standout Avi’Tal Wilson-Parteete in 2022.

Born on June 13, 2003, in Suffolk, VA, Michaela Rose is the daughter of Michael Sr. and Marcia Rose. Both of her parents, Michael Sr. and Marcia, were athletes and coaches at Auburn University under the guidance of Coach Dennis Shaver. Her talent was evident early on, garnering recognition with victories at prestigious events. Notable among her accolades are her wins at the New Balance High School Outdoor 800-meter championship in 2019, clocking in at 2:04.38, and the 400-meter championship with a swift time of 55.20.

Rose holds multiple records, including the AAU National Junior Olympic 15-16 Age Group Record in the 800 meters, as well as Virginia State All-time records in the outdoor 800 meters and indoor 600 meters. Rose joined Louisiana State University in 2021 and plans to pursue a degree in biological sciences at LSU. As we reflect on her early life, let us take a closer look at her burgeoning career.

Her recent notable wins

Michaela Rose, a proud representative of LSU, also represents Team USA in international track and field competitions. Her talent was evident in 2022 when she clinched a bronze medal in the 400-meter hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships. Throughout her career, Rose has set remarkable personal bests, including 400 meters in 53.42 seconds, 400m hurdles in 56.86 seconds, 800 meters in 1:59.08, and 1500 meters in 4:11.98.

In 2024, she achieved another milestone by setting a US collegiate indoor track record over 600 yards, clocking in at 1:16.76 during the Corky Classic in Lubbock, Texas. This feat shattered a record that had stood for 42 years, previously held by Delisa Walton at 1:17.38, set during the 1982 edition of Corky Classic. With her exceptional track record, Michaela Rose, and as the season unfolds, fans eagerly anticipate the waves this track star is destined to create as she continues her pursuit of dominance on the track.

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