“1:58.95, that is a meet record, taking down a thirty-five-year record of 1:59.11 set by Suzy Favor…..Michaela Rose has finally done it!” When these words echoed in Hayward Field on Thursday as Michaela Rose crossed the 800m finish line, she looked invincible. The track and field star closed her eyes, pumped her chest, and pointed her index finger upwards, as if thanking the forces of the universe for what she achieved. But what happened in just 2 days? No one knows. Suddenly, the tables turned, and Rose slowed down…

A weird coincidence has just happened with Rose. Last year, at the NCAA outdoor track and field championship, she finished first in the women’s 800m semis. And then all of a sudden, she lost pace in the finals, coming fourth. This year, call it fate or what, but the unfortunate incident repeated! She came first in the semis on Thursday when she broke a history meet record. But in the 2025 NCAA finals, Rose faced yet another narrow miss, coming fourth in 1:59.47s. She would have been heartbroken for sure. But the courageous track and field star was brave enough to point out what went wrong today.

After the June 14 final, Michaela Rose spoke to Let’s Run.com, where she reflected on her NCAA final results. “I just want to first give honor to God. Uh, this was a final that I was very excited for. I wanted to show up and show out, but I blew up in my face.” It’s not easy for a track and field champ to accept where they went wrong. But, still Michaela Rose agreed, “I got too excited, and you know, you just got to be patient and let things come to you when it’s time.”

The LSU track and field star, Rose, also thought that she had it in her to win today, but some things went wrong: “I think I got it out way too quick.” And yes, life seldom gives us a second chance. But had she gotten a do-over, she would have liked to change a few things about her NCAA final run. Rose highlighted that, “I kind of forgot all about the patientness that my coach was telling me about. I just felt the adrenaline… I think I blasted that 200 way too fast. I don’t even remember what it was, it was like something too quick….”

Well, sadly, this isn’t the first time Michaela Rose has missed the podium by a hair’s breadth. The same happened at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships last year. Also, at the 2024 U.S. Olympic track and field trials, she missed out her ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics by a single spot, as she came in fourth. Also, in 2022, her first year at Louisiana State University, Michaela Rose missed out on qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships by 0.34 seconds. So really, fourth positions have truly troubled her.

Yet, it’s brave of her to stand and accept that she should have been a lot calmer. After all, she has a core track and field background.

Michaela Rose has a rich track and field background

Imagine being a track and field athlete who ran her first mile at the age of 4. That’s Michaela Rose for you. She hails from a track and field background, with her parents being runners at Auburn in the past. Her two younger siblings, Michail and Michailyn, are also track and field athletes.

But Rose? She is a cut above in her field. In May 2025, Michaela Rose lowered her personal best to 1:58.12, which makes her the second fastest collegiate woman in history! So yes, she has it in her, all that is needed is a slight push and hopefully things fall in place. Do you think she can write her redemption chapter? Let us know below!