2014 Men’s Basketball
Championship
Watkins
NEW YORK – The fifth-ranked Nittany Lions made good on an appearance at one of track and field’s greatest stages on Saturday, taking top honors in the 4×800-meter relay at the prestigious Millrose Games at the Armory Track and Field Center. Bettering the rest of the field by more than five seconds, the Nittany Lions zipped to a finishing time of 7:21.37 – good for Millrose Games and Armory Track records, also tying the Penn State record in the process.
Freshman Za’Von Watkins kicked off the effort, giving the Nittany Lions a comfortable lead at the first exchange, splitting 1:51.08 on the lead off.
Watkins handed off to freshman Brannon Kidder, who helped keep the competition at bay with a 1:51.47 carry. Next up was senior Ricky West with a split of 1:50.25 on the third leg.
Senior Casimir Loxsom closed things out, going 1:48.58 to the anchor, solidifying the Nittany Lions record-setting 7:21.37.
The effort bettered the long-standing Millrose record of 7:23.08, set by Richmond in 1982. The Nittany Lions performance was also the best in the history of the Armory facility, knocking off Columbia’s 7:25.47 from 2012.
The Lions also tied the Penn State standard in the event, matching the 7:21.37 effort of Steve Balkey, David McMillan, Chris Mills, and Ray Levitre from 1987.
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