Cas Loxsom of Brooks Beasts sets American record in 600 at Lobo Collegiate meet...

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico—The altitude training stint for members of the Seattle-based Brooks Beasts is paying dividends so far this season, as Penn State alum Cas Loxsom (left/photo by Paul Merca) set a new American record in the 600-meter run Saturday at the Lobo Collegiate Open meet hosted by the University of New Mexico at the Albuquerque Convention Center.

Loxsom, last year’s runner-up at the USA Outdoor championships at 800 meters, stopped the clock in 1:15.58, to take down the previous American record set by Eric Sowinski of 1:15.61 set in February 2013 at the Armory in New York.

Finishing behind Loxsom were a pair of Brooks Beasts teammates in Mark Wieczorek (1:16.20), and Curtis Beach (1:18.08).

Later in the meet, the trio combined with Matt Hillenbrand to win the 4 x 400 meter relay in 3:14.10.

Hillenbrand was sixth in the 800 in 1:52.63, while fellow Beast Riley Masters was seventh in 1:52.84.

University of Washington alum Katie Mackey of the Beasts won the mile in 4:36.22, with training partners Brie Felnagle second in 4:36.37, and Amanda Mergaert third in 4:44.51.

Complete results from the Lobo Collegiate Open are available here.

In Pullman, pole vaulter Kristine Felix of host Washington State highlighted competition at the 13th annual WSU Open meet at their indoor complex.

Felix, the 2013 Pac-12 champion, soared over the bar at 13-11 3/4 (4.26m), a new personal best, and places her for the moment in fifth on the current 2015 collegiate list.

“There is nowhere to go but up from here and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season because I definitely know I can do better,”  said Felix.

Washington State’s release and results from the meet can be accessed here.

Courtesy of WSU, here’s a video interview with Cougar head coach Wayne Phipps after the meet recapping his team’s performance.

NOTE:  Brooks Running and the sports information office at Washington State contributed to this report.