Josh Finley Country Financial/WMIX Sports Ram of the Week

Junior Sprinter Keaton Koch — Mt. Vernon Rams Track & Field

MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon junior sprinter Keaton Koch delivered a historic performance Monday night at the Ram Invite at Ken Hunt Stadium, breaking one of the oldest records in school history while helping lead the Rams to team championships at their home meet.

Koch won the 100-meter dash in a blazing 10.82 seconds, setting a new Mt. Vernon Township High School record and surpassing the previous mark of 10.94 set by Larry Woods in 1965.

The record had stood for 61 years and had become one of the most celebrated marks in Rams track and field history. Seven different athletes had tied the previous record over the decades — Steve Livley, Troy Heitmeyer, Mike Young, Terrell Cooks, Anthony Moore, Anthony Lash, and current Rams sprint coach Robert Grider — but none had managed to break it until Koch’s performance Monday night.

Koch’s historic evening did not stop there.

The junior also captured first place in the 200-meter dash and helped the Rams win the 4×100-meter relay alongside teammates Alex Knappier, Tyler Carter, and JaShawn Staples, capping one of the most memorable sprint performances in recent program history.

Behind performances like Koch’s, the Rams claimed the varsity team championship at the Ram Invite, while Mt. Vernon also captured the frosh/soph team title to complete a sweep on their home track.

Breaking a record that endured for more than six decades is a rare feat in any sport, and Koch now stands alone atop one of the premier events in Mt. Vernon track and field history.

The record-setting night also added another chapter to the proud tradition of Rams athletics at Ken Hunt Stadium.