AUSTIN, Texas – Michaela Rose ended her stellar second year in the best way possible, as the national champion. The gold medalist is a Virginia native who clocked a season-best 1:59.83 to break the two-minute barrier for the third time this season outdoors. She ran three times under two minutes throughout her outdoor college career, making her the first and only woman in NCAA history to accomplish this feat. She joined Tzuriel Pedigo and the men’s 4,100 meter relay team as the weekend’s final Tigers to win an NCAA championship.
On Saturday in Austin, Texas, the Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium hosted the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where the LSU women’s track and field team wrapped up its season. The LSU ladies scored a total of 26 points throughout the week, good for seventh place at the NCAA Championships. It was his season-record fourth outdoor effort at Mike A. Myers Stadium. In the final event of the day, 400-metre hurdles runner Shani’a Bellamy set a new personal best. The junior’s time of 55.58 seconds beats the previous record of 0.38 seconds on her previous best time of 0.55.96.
On Saturday, Alia Armstrong, Favor Ofili, Brianna Lyston and Thelma Davies kicked off competition for LSU in the women’s 4,100-meter relay. The 42.52-second run was the best of the season for the Tigers and tied for fifth most in LSU history. Tonea Marshall and Symone Mason completed the 2021 squad which also included Davies and Ofili. After collegiate record holders Texas (41.60) and Southeastern Conference runner-up (42.46), they finished third. All four relay members were named to the first-team All-American and helped LSU score its first six points of the weekend.
Forty minutes later, Armstrong finished third in the 100-meter hurdles, ending his college career at LSU. She ran the 100 yards in 12.49 seconds (+3.8 m/s) to earn her fourth All-American first-team honor. The New Orleans native, who is destined to have a successful career as a hurdler, plans to compete at the highest level this summer. In the 100 yards, the eldest had six points for the Tigers. She finished in fifth place, scoring four points for the Tigers, and was named a first-team All-American for the first time in her school career due to her time.
