April 24, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After posting a season-best and conference-leading performance in the 800 meters last weekend, senior Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) has been named Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week. Loxsom is the fifth Nittany Lion to earn the honor this spring, joining teammates Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio), and Robby Creese (Mt. Airy, Md.), as well as women's team members Mahagony Jones (Cleveland, Ohio) and Lauren Kenney (State College, Pa.).
Loxsom finished fifth overall and tops among collegiate athletes in the elite "Invitational" 800 at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., last weekend. The senior, who was the NCAA runner up in the event indoors, ripped to a season-best 1:46.77 for the event, which currently stands as the fastest time in the Big Ten this season, and is also tied for the No. 2 spot in the NCAA behind Oregon's Elijah Greer at 1:46.20.
Loxsom is coming off a sizzling indoor season, as the senior was named Big Ten Athlete of the Championship, as well as Big Ten Athlete of the Year, on his way to his fifth-career First Team All-America citation.
Teammate Kidder also impressed at Mt. SAC, running 1:47.23 - good for sixth in the same "Invitational" heat. The freshman currently stands second in the Big Ten and fourth among Division I competitors.
Loxsom and company will be in action this weekend, taking on the nation's best at the historic Penn Relays Carnival in Philadelphia, Pa. The Nittany Lions are the defending champions in the sprint medley and 4x800-meter relays. Loxsom was a member of both winning relays in 2012.