July 5, 2011
World University Games Homepage
USATF World University Information
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Following a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and a sixth-place showing at the USATF Championships, rising junior Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) has been selected to represent the United States at the World University Games, set for August 12-23, in Shenzhen, China. Loxsom has been on a tear over the last month, setting a new school record at 800-meters at the Harry Jerome Classic in Vancouver last weekend.
Loxsom reset his own school record this past weekend, running 1:45.28 to finish second at Harry Jerome. Loxsom would conclude a busy weekend with another impressive performance, finishing second in 1:46.71 at the Victoria International Track Classic last Sunday. The New Haven, Conn., native was the top collegiate finisher on both occasions.
All told, the rising junior has dipped under the 1:46-barrier on three occasions over the last month, running 1:45.31 to place fourth at the NCAA Championships, and going under the marker again at the USATF meet, clocking 1:45.85 during the semi-final round at the USATF meet.
In a sensational sophomore campaign, Loxsom captured his second-straight Big Ten outdoor title in the 800, and was also a member of school-record setting 4x400-meter relays during both the indoor (3:07.27) and outdoor (3:07.19), along with teammates Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.), Lionel Williams (Staten Island, N.Y.), and Brady Gehret (Altoona, Pa.). Loxsom also ran the 400-meter leg on the Nittany Lions' winning sprint medley relay at the prestigious Penn Relays, helping the squad to Penn State's first Penn Relays victory since 1987, as well as a school-record 3:17.10 in the event.
Loxsom will be one of just a pair of Big Ten athletes on the United States' track and field squad at World University, including Ohio State's Christina Manning in the women's 100-meter hurdles.
In order to qualify for the World University Games, athletes must be currently pursuing a college degree, and have been born between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1993.
For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.