June 21, 2013
DES MOINES, Iowa - Nittany Lion standouts Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.), Brannon Kidder (Lancaster, Ohio), Evonne Britton (El Paso, Texas), Tori Gerlach (Perkasie, Pa.), and Kiah Seymour (Washington, D.C.) all closed out their 2013 outdoor campaigns, Friday at the USATF Senior and Junior Championships at Drake Stadium. Competition continues through Sunday.
Loxsom, who is now competing professionally for Brooks, turned in a season-best 1:46.73 to finish seventh in his semi-final heat of the 800-meters. Kidder would also turn in a seventh-place finish in his heat, clocking 1:48.82. With the top four finishes in each section advancing automatically, neither Nittany Lions managed to snag a qualifying position in Sunday's eight-lane final.
Britton saw her season come to a close, placing 18th overall in the women's 100-meter hurdles - just two spots shy of a lane in the semi-final round. Britton also held her own in the collegiate ranks, finishing as the third-best collegiate competitor in the field with a performance of 13.09 - the second-fastest effort of her career.
Both Seymour and Gerlach competed in the junior ranks, with Gerlach bringing home a fourth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The freshman finished in 10:55.19, to become the fourth-straight Nittany Lion to notch a top four finish in the event at the US junior level. Seymour was a near miss in making the 400-meter hurdle final, placing third in her preliminary section and ninth overall in 1:00.38 - just a spot outside the eight-women final.
Action in Des Moines rolls on on Saturday, including Michael Shuey (Johnsburg, Pa.) in the men's junior javelin, and Rachel Fatherly (Williamsport, Pa.) in the junior women's discus. For more on Nittany Lion track and field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com.