Lukas Koch

This season has been much of the same for Centralia Panther senior, Lukas Koch winning events at all the track meets he attended. Looking for a challenge Lukas turned his sights to the Wichita Pre-State Challenge which involves some of the state’s top competition in classes’ 6A-1A.

Koch competed in the elite field in the 800 and 3200 meter runs, which meant he competed against opponents from all classes. Lukas pushed himself in both competitions and finished with a pair of third place finishes, while breaking his own school records in both events. In the 800 meter run, Koch ran his way, too a time of 1:57.91 breaking his old school record of 1:59.34. The more impressive feat of the day for Lukas came in the 3200 as he broke his school record by nearly 17 seconds, registering a time of 9:30.81 (old record 9:47.65), while also being only 27 tenths of a second off the Class 1A state record, set by Mike Becker of Downs (9:30.54).

His performance at the Wichita Pre-State Challenge didn’t stop there as he competed in the 3-1A 400 meter dash competition and took home first place with a time of 52.19.

Lukas enjoined his teammates later in the week at the Frankfort Invitational and helped lead team to another event team title while winning four gold medals. Koch dominated the meet winning the 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Both the 400 and 800 were tighter down the stretch than the 1600 and 3200, which the senior who by more than 30 seconds and more than 20 seconds, respectively.

With State practically a month away Koch as his sights set on a return trip, another sweep of gold’s (won 800, 1600 and 3200 last year), make it three straight years with gold’s in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs and has his eyes on grabbing a state record before his Panther career comes to a close.