May 5, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: May 5, 2010 - Nittany Lion freshman Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) has been named Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week - his second Big Ten citation in as many weeks - announced by conference offices on Wednesday. Loxsom has emerged as one of the top athletes in the NCAA middle distance ranks, clocking the nation's fastest time at 800-meters, last weekend at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational at Stanford University.
The freshman bested a heat chalked full of professional athletes in Palo Alto, clocking a personal-best 1:46.74 - the 10th-fastest time in the world this year according to the IAAF. Loxsom, who is one of only two collegiate athletes to dip under the 1:47-barrier this season, is now ranked third in the Penn State record books, trailing only Randy Moore, who ran 1:45.96 in 1985, and Ray Levitre, who went 1:46.62 in 1987. Loxsom also garnered Big Ten honors a week ago, thanks to his 1:46.58 split on the 4x800-meter relay at Penn Relays. Loxsom's effort was the fastest of the day.
The New Haven, Conn., native burst onto the national scene this winter, setting a World Junior Record at 600-meters, running 1:16.92.
Loxsom and the Lions are just over a week out from the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, and will take part in one final tune up this weekend at the Penn State Open, set for Friday, May 7, at Nittany Lion Track.