March 12, 2012
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Nittany Lion 4x400-meter quartet of Aaron Nadolsky (Altoona, Pa.), Brandon Bennett-Green (Elkins Park, Pa.), Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) and Brady Gehret (Altoona, Pa.) have officially earned First Team All-America honors, announced on Monday by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA). Also earning recognition were second-team honorees Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas), Loxsom, and Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.).
Nadolsky, Bennett-Green, Loxsom, and Gehret combined to finish second in the 4x400 at last weekend's NCAA Indoor Championships at Boise State University - a program-best finish for the Lions' in the event. The tandem clocked a sizzling 3:05.31 - just off the school-record 3:05.22 - to finish just off Arkansas' winning time of 3:04.92, and upend sprint powerhouse LSU in third in 3:05.80. The finish is the Lions' second-straight All-America effort in the relay, as Nadolsky, Loxsom, and Gehret, along with former Nittany Lion Lionel Williams, placed fifth in the event a year ago. The citation is the third first team finish for both Loxsom, and Gehret, while Nadolsky earns his second-career certificate, and Bennett-Green garners the honor for the first time.
Also earning USTFCCCA recognition was freshman sensation Creese, who placed 11th in the mile run for second team honors. Creese, who was also named USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Track Athlete of the Year last week, was the lone freshman in the mile field. Britton placed 16th overall in the 60-meter hurdles in her first-career appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The junior already had a second-team citation on her resume, after placing ninth in the 100-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a sophomore. Loxsom also made the second team individually, taking 15th in the 800-meters.
The Nittany Lions will take a short break prior to the outdoor season, which is slated to begin with the Jim Click Shootout at the University of Arizona on March 31. For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.