AUSTIN -- Michaela Rose of LSU led from start to finish in a commanding display, winning the women's 800m title in a new facility record at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Rose crossed the finish line in 1:59.83, lowering the stadium record of 2:00.31 that she set in the semifinals on Thursday. Rose's victory is her first individual national title. She is also the first LSU athlete to win the women's 800m title since 1996.

"It's just been a journey all the way from freshman year to this year," Rose said. "In my freshman year, I didn't make it at all in the 800, and I knew I was capable. Putting in the work and trusting what coach had for me and trusting God and everything – just to come here and win it the next year. It's just amazing, so amazing."  

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Another facility record taken down!!

Michaela Rose!!!

📺 ESPN2#NCAATF x @LSUTrackField pic.twitter.com/vAA5RZszmC

— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 11, 2023

It was a masterful display of half-mile running by the sophomore as she took the race out in 58.5, maintaining about a five-meter lead before closing strong in 61.3.

"I had told myself to not look back because I wanted to give everything," Rose said. "Any millisecond looking back could have cost me. I saw on the board where they were, and I still had something in me, I was just going to go to my form and push through the line."

Rose credits her faith as much as anything for her growth from a freshman to sophomore.

"Honestly, my spiritual growth," she said "It's been a journey. I've learned so much. I've gotten so much closer to God and just stepping to the line with a deeper purpose, trusting that what He's putting in me is enough. And also, during cross country, coaches put me in longer races. I did the 6k, that dreaded thing. So, I feel like having more stamina for the end of my races has been a huge difference, because if you watch a lot of my races last year, I just didn't have it."

Rose had been hoping to break the meet record of 1:57.73 set by Athing Mu of Texas A&M in 2021 but that will have to wait another year.

Gabija Galvydyte of Oklahoma State finished second in a personal-best 2:00.47, and Claire Seymour of BYU took third in 2:00.55. 

Roisin Willis of Stanford was fourth in a personal-best 2:00.91, and Dorcus Ewoi of Campbell was fifth in 2:02.13.