June 28, 2015
EUGENE, Ore. -- Nittany Lion alums Joe Kovacs (Nazareth, Pa.) and Casimir Loxsom (New Haven, Conn.) punched their tickets to the 2015 IAAF World Championships Sunday on the final day of the 2015 United States Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field.
Kovacs tallied a first-place finish in the shot put (71 feet, 8 inches) and Loxsom finished third in the 800-meter run (1 minute, 45.35 seconds).
Kovacs, along with Darrell Hill (Philadelphia, Pa.) and volunteer assistant coach Ryan Whiting all competed in flight two of the men's shot put. Hill and Whiting finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Following the first three throws, Kovacs was in sixth with his toss of 67-9. On his fourth throw, Kovacs posted a mark of 71-8 to take the lead.
On his first attempt, Hill recorded the second-best toss of his career (68-3), but was unable to top his mark in his final five throws and Whiting posted his best mark of the afternoon on his fourth attempt (68-2.5).
Heading into the final three throws, Hill, Kovacs and Whiting were in fifth through seventh place.
On the track, Loxsom qualified for the 2015 IAAF World Championships with the third and final qualifying spot in the 800-meter run.
Both Kovacs and Whiting throw professionally for Nike, while Loxsom runs professionally for Brooks Beasts Track Club.
The top three finishers in each event at the 2015 USATF Championships qualified for the 2015 IAAF World Championships. The 2015 IAAF World Championships are held at the Beijing National Stadium, the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics, August 22-30.
Last night, Sancho Barrett (Amityville, N.Y.) finished seventh in the 110-meter hurdles at the Jamaica Senior Track & Field Championships with the number two time in Penn State history (13.69).
For more on Nittany Lion track & field, log on to www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.