UNIVERSITY PARK — Senior Casmir Loxsom ripped to facility, school and meet records with a time of 1:46.98 in the 800 meters on Saturday at the Nittany Lion Challenge at Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track.
Loxsom’s performance — the NCAA’s best mark in 2013 — was one of a grand total of 17 victories by the Nittany Lions on the weekend.
Also shining for Penn State in the middle distances were senior Ricky West and freshman Za’Von Watkins, who turned in a one-two finish in the men’s 1,000 meters.
West took top honors with a sizzling effort of 2:21.95, while Watkins finished a close second in 2:22.02. The duo’s performance currently rank first and second nationally, and well as third and fifth in the all-time Penn State standings.
The Lions were equally as successful in the field events, led by Marlene Ricketts’ career-best leap of 42-0.50 to win the triple jump.
The junior’s mark bears national merit, as the effort now stands as the top performance in the Big Ten this year, as well as the third best in the collegiate ranks. The junior had a solid day overall, also placing second in the long jump via a season-best leap of 18-10.50 (5.75).
