In 2012, Penn State junior Casimir Loxsom failed to make it out of the NCAA preliminary round finishing third in his section and eleventh overall. While it may have been a bad heat draw racing against Charles Jock and Erik Sowinski, all of that is in the past for Loxsom.

Now a senior, Loxsom heads into the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship as the third seeded 800-meter runner.

“I've tried to write last year off, but I’ve definitely taken the positives from it,” Loxsom said. “I’ve been trying to treat this as a new season and not let it affect my confidence at all. It’s almost been a blessing in disguise, because I definitely take this year a little more seriously.”

This year’s finalist will have a different look as four runners, including Jock and Sowinski, have graduated and Edward Kemboi is red-shirting for Iowa State.

But then there’s Oregon senior Elijah Greer. After finishing third at last year’s national championship, he continued to race at the Olympic Trails (6th place, 1:45.06), Paris (8th place, 1:46.59) and London (7th place, 1:46.14). And in 2013, he has yet to lose an 800-meter race in the finals.

Greer acknowledges he is the favorite to beat and does not mind the danger of having that target on his back.

“In terms of being competitive and assertive, I definitely want to see myself as the most dangerous athlete in the field," Greer told Curtis Anderson of the Register-Guard. "The one that’s going to bring the most heat, and the one that’s going to be the champion.” 

Loxsom also competed at the Olympic Trials, but his most notable final round success comes from the 2010 IAAF World Junior Championships, where he won the silver medal. He’s represented the United States internationally on three occasions and made three finals. 


Loxsom became the first American middle distance medal winner at a World Junior Championship. (PhotoRun)

Loxsom's best times come from races in the summer. He has yet to his a personal best this season as his training is focused on peaking come June and July. His season best is 1:46.77 from Mt. SAC Relays. In that race, he finished fifth against a field that included Olympian Dwayne Solomon, Sowinski, Brandon Johnson and Felix Kitur. For Loxsom, that race was just a taste of the future and another experience to bring into this weekend.

“I’ve been (to the NCAA Outdoor Championships) four times before,” Loxsom said. “There’s definitely been some up and down experiences, but I think I have enough big-race experience that I don’t think that will be a deciding factor.”

While he did not beat the professionals at Mt. SAC, Loxsom heads to Eugene with a 1-0 record against Greer in 2013. Loxsom and Greer faced off as the third legs of their respective distance medley relay teams at Penn Relays. The Nittany Lions won their first distance medley title since 1959 as the Oregon Ducks finished third.

Greer’s new fearless approach of going out in front early could be met by a late attack by Loxsom.

“You definitely don’t take anything for granted against him at any time,” Loxsom said. “At his home track, I think he’ll be running tough and I’ll have to do so as well. I feel that this is a race without a clear outcome and it’s going to be who shows up on that day.”

There are several Penn Relays victories to highlight Loxsom’s career at Penn State, but no individual NCAA titles. Whether he wins on Friday afternoon or not, it will not be the last race of his running career.

“I like to think of this as more of the end of a chapter than the culmination of a career,” Loxsom said. “I’m really excited about moving forward. At the end of the day, if I can look back at this race and say I gave it my all and tried my hardest, I’ll be content with my collegiate career. I know there’s bigger things down the road too.

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Not only does a Duck stand in Loxsom’s way, but there are a few more threats.

Declan Murray - He’s got the second best time of the year with his 1:46.77 from Mt. SAC Relays. Since then, he’s cooled off in preparation for the bigger stage. He won the Horizon League Championship in 1:52 and took second in his regional heat in 1:48.33, which seeds him eighth. He also finished third at the NCAA indoor championship. 

Harun Abda (Senior), Minnesota - Took down Loxsom at the Big 10 championship in 1:48.64. He’s run 1:48.18 on the season. He ran his personal best of 1:46.65 at last year’s championship.

Brannon Kidder (Freshman), Penn State - Although Loxsom has the upperhand on his teammate, you can’t sleep on the freshman, who's already run 1:47.23. 

Sean Obinwa (Junior), Florida - 1:47.66 from Florida Relays is his seasonal best, but before his race at Regionals was defeated by Leoman Momoh. He finished fourth infoors.

David Mokone (Junior), Western Kentucky - The last man into the national championship was also a part of the fast race at Mt. SAC as the fourth collegiate in 1:47.51. 

Patrick Rono (Sophomore), Arkansas: He beat Elijah Greer at the Tyson Invitational indoors. He set a personal best of 1:46.49 at Regionals and finished fourth.