WORKING TOGETHER, KIDDER & LOXSOM ENJOY 800M SUCCESS
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

DES MOINES, IOWA, USA (21-Jun) -- Penn State University's Brannon Kidder and Cas Loxsom represent two bookends of a collegiate career: arrival and departure. Kidder, a rising sophomore, and Loxsom, an outgoing senior, advanced to today's semi-final of the 800m at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, supporting one another along the way.

"We're good friends, we train together every day," said Kidder, 19, from Lancaster, Ohio. "Just like any teammates, there's a respect and we're pretty close."

Kidder and Loxsom were the only pair of collegiate teammates from 2013 to advance on from yesterday's first round of the 800m. Though they are at different stages of their careers, the tandem from University Park make for an excellent duo.

Loxsom, runner-up at the 2013 NCAA Championships, raced in his fist professional competition wearing a bright neon yellow Brooks vest yesterday, no longer the dark blue and white of Penn State.

"I signed with an agent right after NCAA's and he started getting contacted by shoe companies. Brooks just came on and I was really interested," said the 22-year-old who grew up in New Haven, Conn.

The recently-formed Brooks middle distance training group based in Seattle is what sealed the deal for Loxsom, a 1:45.28 800m runner. He has joined 1500m specialist Katie Mackey, elite pacer Matt Scherer, and Olympic Trials 800m finalist Mark Wieczorek in the Emerald City.

"Their group in Seattle is getting a lot of attention and a lot of big time people," he said. "It kind of reminds me of my decision to go to Penn State, where you can kind of see the spark of something about to come on big. I just wanted to be a part of it."

The next spark at Penn State very well may be Kidder. Though Loxsom is leaving the University next winter (he has one semester of school remaining before taking the long drive out to Washington after Christmas), a young standout remains. Kidder was an NCAA qualifier, finishing third behind Loxsom in the championships this year.

Under Loxsom's wing, Kidder has rapidly developed as a middle distance ace. Just last year, his personal best sat above 1:50. Now he is at 1:46.87, a time recorded in yesterday's round in hot and windy conditions.

"I wouldn't say I expected to advance on, but I hoped to," he said. "I thought I'd be able to and have a good shot at it."

Watching Loxsom's career blossom over the last year has taught Kidder the valuable lesson of being prepared for all situations.

"He just says you never know what is going to happen," said Kidder. "You may go out fast like the third heat or slow like the first. I guess be ready for anything."

Though each are vying for one of eight coveted spots in Sunday's final, they still support one another through and through. In the mixed zone speaking with reporters on Thursday, Loxsom paused his interview to watch Kidder's race on television, cheering loudly for his friend and former teammate.

"C'mon Kid! C'mon Kid! Yeah, kick Kid!" he yelled, breaking the usual no-cheering code in the press area.

The tandem's success even drew the eye of Olympian Duane Solomon.

"We have our hands full with these guys," said Solomon, an Olympic finalist from 2012. "Coming from the collegiate ranks is hard. But they are handling it and doing very well. Hats off to them."

Look for both Kidder and Loxsom to race hard in this evening's semi-finals.

"I'm definitely a lot stronger [than past years]," said Loxsom. "I am confident and excited for the semi-final, and just want to get a race that goes out in 51 so I can test myself a little bit."

Kidder's mindset was similar.

"I guess I just go into each race thinking I have a chance," he said. "Just got to race well and things will go my way."


PHOTO: Brannon Kidder and Cas Loxsom after their 800m preliminary races at the 2013 USA Outdoor Championships (photos by Chris Lotsbom for Race Results Weekly)

ENDS