At the last day of SEC Outdoors, the Tigers win five silver medals and school records drop.
On a thrilling final day of the 2025 SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the LSU Tigers put on a gutsy, record-breaking performance that cemented their status as one of the conference’s premier programs. Though gold medals narrowly eluded them, the Tigers closed out the meet with five silver medals, a flurry of personal bests, and a pair of new school records, highlighting the depth and promise of a team peaking at the right time.
### **Silver-Lining Surge**
As the sun set over the host stadium, LSU’s track and field squad turned up the intensity in a flurry of finals. Throughout Sunday’s finale, the Tigers repeatedly found themselves within striking distance of SEC gold, but it was the silver-medal consistency that defined their outing.
**1. Alia Armstrong – Women’s 100m Hurdles**
Senior Alia Armstrong, already a decorated All-American and former national champion, once again showcased her elite form in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. Clocking a blazing 12.47 seconds, Armstrong placed second behind Kentucky’s Masai Russell, who edged her with a meet-record 12.42. Armstrong’s finish is the second-fastest time in LSU history and ranks among the top collegiate times nationally this season.
“Alia left it all on the track,” LSU head coach Dennis Shaver said. “She’s a true competitor and her focus heading into NCAAs is exactly where it needs to be.”
**2. Michaela Rose – Women’s 800m**
Michaela Rose delivered one of the gutsiest performances of the evening. The junior middle-distance star shattered her previous personal best and LSU’s school record, crossing the line in 1:58.89—a time that would win most collegiate meets. However, Ole Miss sensation Ajayla Johnson nipped her at the finish with a 1:58.75, just .14 seconds faster.
Rose’s performance not only reset the LSU record books but also vaulted her into the top-five all-time in SEC history.
“I felt strong the whole way,” Rose said. “This is the fastest I’ve ever gone, and I know I still have more to give. It’s all about peaking at the right time.”
**3. Da’Marcus Fleming – Men’s 100m**
Sprinter Da’Marcus Fleming matched his season-best with a 10.01-second effort in the men’s 100-meter dash, finishing just behind Arkansas’s Ja’Kobe Tharp, who broke the tape in 9.98. It was Fleming’s cleanest start of the season, and the finish marked a strong rebound from last year’s injury-marred postseason.
The result was significant not only for the silver medal but also for qualification. Fleming is now among the NCAA East Region’s fastest entrants, solidifying his place in the upcoming nationals.
**4. Women’s 4x400m Relay**
The women’s 4x400m relay team delivered an electrifying performance to finish second with a school-record time of 3:25.98, obliterating the previous LSU mark by nearly a full second. The lineup—comprising Amber Anning, Michaela Rose, Garriel White, and Kaylyn Brown—was smooth on all handoffs and aggressive on every leg.
It was South Carolina, however, that narrowly held off LSU at the line, winning in 3:25.76.
“That was a championship-caliber race from start to finish,” said relay anchor Kaylyn Brown. “We know we’re right there. Now the goal is to come back stronger for nationals and finish the job.”
**5. Tzuriel Pedigo – Men’s Javelin**
LSU’s throws program continues to produce elite results, and none more consistent than senior Tzuriel Pedigo. The 2021 NCAA champion came into the SEC Championships as the top seed and battled a loaded field. Though he led through the first three rounds, Florida’s Noah Henson unleashed a season-best 80.12m on his final throw to leapfrog Pedigo’s best mark of 79.45m.
Pedigo, though disappointed, praised the level of competition.
“You want to compete against the best, and the SEC gives you that every time,” he said. “I’m motivated now more than ever.”
### **Breaking Records, Breaking Ground**
Beyond the five silver medals, LSU athletes broke two school records and posted a string of top-ten performances that hint at a team ready to explode at nationals. The Tigers finished with 12 total podium finishes and had several athletes qualify for the NCAA East Prelims.
#### **Women’s 800m – New School Record**
Michaela Rose’s 1:58.89 is not just a personal best and school record—it’s also the fastest time run by an SEC athlete in the event since 2017 and places her second nationally this season. The time is Olympic-standard qualifying, signaling Rose as a potential contender for Team USA in the summer of 2025.
#### **Women’s 4x400m Relay – Another Record**
The quartet’s 3:25.98 shattered the previous LSU record of 3:26.90 set in 2012. The improvement reflects the rising depth of the sprint group and sets up the team to potentially chase a national title in Eugene next month.
“This is one of the deepest sprint groups I’ve coached,” Coach Shaver said. “They’ve bought into the system, they trust each other, and they’re peaking right now. That’s all you can ask for.”
### **Podium Presence and NCAA Implications**
While gold may have been elusive, LSU’s consistent podium finishes ensured they remained in contention across multiple disciplines. The women’s team finished third in overall points, behind Arkansas and Florida, while the men’s team secured fourth.
The results place LSU in a strong position entering the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds, which begin in two weeks.
Athletes like Armstrong, Rose, Fleming, and Pedigo are virtual locks for nationals, but LSU also saw breakout performances from underclassmen, including:
* **Kaylyn Brown**, a freshman, ran a personal-best 50.98 in the open 400m, good for fourth place and No. 6 all-time at LSU.
* **Jeremy Nelson**, a sophomore pole vaulter, cleared 5.45m for a new personal best and qualified for regionals.
* **Zoe Chatman**, a redshirt freshman, threw a personal-best 55.23m in the women’s discus, placing fifth overall.
### **Coach’s Corner: A Championship Mentality**
Though the Tigers did not dominate the medal count like in years past, Head Coach Dennis Shaver expressed pride in how his athletes fought from start to finish, especially considering the level of competition in the SEC.
“This is the toughest conference in the country,” Shaver said. “Every medal, every PR, every school record means that much more. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished here and excited for what’s ahead.”
Shaver was particularly encouraged by the team’s balance—sprinters, hurdlers, mid-distance, throwers, and relays all contributing to the team score. That kind of all-around excellence is exactly what LSU will need to make noise on the national stage.
### **Looking Ahead: NCAA Regionals and Championships**
With the SEC Championships in the rearview, the Tigers now turn their focus to the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds, set to be held in Lexington, Kentucky, from May 22-25. There, LSU will send more than two dozen athletes, many of whom are positioned as top-12 seeds in their events.
The NCAA Outdoor Championships will be held June 5-8 in Eugene, Oregon, where LSU will look to convert its silver medals into gold and take aim at national titles.
For Armstrong, Rose, and Pedigo, the path forward could include more than just NCAA medals—Olympic Trials and Paris 2024 looms as well.
“We’re built for big moments,” Rose said. “And we know Eugene is where legends are made. That’s what we’re chasing.”-
### **Final Thoughts: A Silver-Lined Future**
While the Tigers didn’t hoist an SEC team title this time, their showing in the final day of competition was anything but a letdown. Five silver medals, multiple NCAA-leading marks, and new school records tell the story of a program not just surviving but thriving in the nation’s most competitive track and field environment.
If LSU’s performances at SEC Outdoors were any indication, the best may be yet to come—because silver this week could mean gold next month.
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**Key Stats from LSU’s Final Day at SEC Outdoors:**
* **5 Silver Medals**: Women’s 100m hurdles (Armstrong), Women’s 800m (Rose), Men’s 100m (Fleming), Women’s 4x400m relay, Men’s Javelin (Pedigo)
* **2 School Records**: Women’s 800m (Rose), Women’s 4x400m Relay
* **12 Total Podium Finishes**: Across men’s and women’s events
* **Top-5 NCAA Marks**: Rose (800m), Armstrong (100H), Women’s 4x400m
