Pat Casey to Transfer
1/11/2012 11:52:00 AM | Track & Field
Distance Standout to enroll at Oklahoma for spring semester
Patrick Casey, from Laurel, Mont. has been released by the Montana State Department of Athletics and will transfer to Oklahoma for the spring semester and compete for the Sooners. A wildly successful distance runner for the Bobcats, Casey will leave Montana State as arguably one of the most talented student-athletes the program has ever had.
“Montana State has been a great home for the last three and a half years,” said Casey. “I'm thankful for everything everyone has done, both athletically and academically. I've become a better runner because of MSU. I'll definitely miss Coach Kennedy and my teammates and I look forward to the opportunities at Oklahoma.”
Casey's most notable performance came on Feb. 4, 2011, when he recorded the first sub-four minute mile with a time of 3:59.76. Because Bozeman is at altitude, his adjusted time marked a nation's-best at the point of the season at 3:54.59.
Just a week later, he produced another impressive performance in the 800, setting a new program and field house record with 1:47.08, adjusted.
He then went on to win the Big Sky Conference title in the mile before finishing 12th at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
In the outdoor season, he won both the 800 and the 1,500 at the Big Sky Championships and advanced beyond the NCAA West Preliminary in the 1,500 to make another national championship appearance. Casey went on to place eighth overall with a time of 3:45.19 and his second All-American nod.
As a freshman, he came out firing on all cylinders. He was the Big Sky Champion in the indoor mile with a time of 4:09.92 and went on to earn a bronze medal at the NCAA Championships after crossing the finish line in 4:01.87 and was named to the All-American squad in just his first attempt.
Casey also competed at prestigious meets such as the Oregon Relays, the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational and the Mt. SAC Relays.
“We're pleased that we could help him up to this point in this career,” said Bobcat head coach Dale Kennedy. “He made tremendous progress here in terms of his time drops. It's nice to know we had a part in this part of his running career at the collegiate level. We wish him well as he moves forward with his athletic and academic career at the University of Oklahoma.”
Casey is a 2008 graduate of Laurel High School and was the Class A State Champion in the 800, 1600, 3200 and the mile as a senior. He was the 1600 and 3200 in 2007 and was named the Two Mile Gatorade Runner of the Year in 2008.
