Penn State graduate Casimir Loxsom broke the 600m American Record this past weekend in Albuquerque, New Mexico running 1:15.58. The mark broke the old American Record (set by Erik Sowinski) by three hundredths of a second. It's also the third time the record has been broken within the past two years (Duane Soloman briefly held the record in January 2013 before Sowinski knocked him off at Millrose the following month). Not a bad start to the season for Cas, who is now beginning his sophomore season as a professional with the Brooks training group. Especially considering the 600m has become Loxsom's ideal race.
Attending high school in Connecticut, Loxsom grew up racing and excelling at the 600m. He has been quoted before as saying he "LOVES" the race and the numbers back it up. As a high schooler in 2009, Loxsom ran 1:18.72, a mark that was #3 AT when he ran it (then Strymar Livingston came along). When Loxsom graduated and moved to Penn State University, his success continued. During a legendary freshman season, Loxsom clocked 1:16.92 in his favorite event, placing him in the top 5 collegiates ever and giving him a World Junior Record. Two years later, Loxsom lowered his mark to 1:16.66 before finally breaking free in 2013 to run an American Collegiate record of 1:15.79. In fact, Loxsom's mark would have been an American Record in the event if Duane Soloman had not beat him to it by merely a couple of hours. Loxsom ended his indoor 600m campaign running 1:15.42, a mark which would be an American record if not for the fact that it was on an oversized track. Technically speaking, Loxsom has now run 3 of the fastest 5 indoor 600m ever and the top two fastest times.
But there is no 600m at the National Championships or Olympic Trials. After finishing second at least year's USA Championships in the 800m, Loxsom is hoping to punch a ticket for his first Senior World Championship team in 2015 by duplicating or bettering the result. Although Loxsom grabbed silver, he did in a non-championship year, meaning runners like Nick Symmonds and Brandon Johnson were out of action (plus a fall in the race took out many of Loxsom's top competitor's including rival Elijah Greer). However, Loxsom showed he was not afraid of a fast pace or big name racers.
All the same, Loxsom has not had near the record setting success in either the 4 or the 8 that he has had in his sweet spot middle ground. He has still yet to break 1:45 in the 800m and he failed to grab an NCAA championship as well, finished second both indoors and out his senior season and missing a few finals in surprising fashion. He has gotten better over time (including his last three major championships) at navigating the rounds, but in a loaded US championship he will need to be extra sharp.
The good news? Loxsom hit his stride as a runner in 2010 when he dropped from 1:50 to 1:46 in a year's time. The momentum lasted long into the summer as Cas won a the US Junior Championships at 800m over HS phenom and NCAA Champion Robby Andrews and then grabbed a silver medal at the Junior World Championships, the highest finish for a US runner in the events history. If he is in another groove this year, big things could be on the horizon.
And I mean, an American Record is a pretty nice feather in your cap.
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