It hasn’t set in for Brownstown senior Avery Koch yet, but she left the Seymour Sectional on Tuesday with two first-place finishes in the discus and shot put.
Koch threw a personal best in the shot put, which came after watching an opponent from Jennings County blow her best throw out of the water. But then Koch came back and threw a 37’4.5” to win the event.
“I responded with a throw of 35’11”, and then from it was smooth sailing and I threw the 37’4.5”,” Koch said.
Koch won the discus with a throw of 127’7”, which beat the entire field by 27 feet.
She went to regional in the discus her sophomore year, but tearing both her ACLs over the past four years has deterred her ability to thrive in both events.
But coming into her final season, Koch has been healthy and dominant for most of the season.
“Adrenaline was pumping today,” Koch said. “Since it was my senior year, I was super excited. I was very efficient today, as well.”
Perhaps the biggest thing for Koch was the mental side of things. She said she was struggling with a mental block over the season, but she was very focused and positive heading into sectional.
She will look to fine-tune some things with her technique in both discus and shot put heading into regional.
Koch won’t be representing the Braves alone, though, as sophomore Camryn Thompson will be joining her.
Thompson qualified in both the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. Thompson placed second in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.37.
“To be honest, I really didn’t think I’d make it regional in the 100,” Thompson said. “Getting second, immediately right away, I just got emotional. I was so proud of myself. I’ve been working so hard for this.”
In the 300 hurdles, Thompson thought she had a shot, and she executed. She placed second in that event, as well, running a 50.83.
“I knew I had a chance, and I was really confident,” Thompson said. “I stuck with the best girl who had the best time and got second.”
This will be Thompson’s first trip to regional, as it’s her first season running track and field since her freshman season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Before the meet, Thompson stuck to her usual routine, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich about an hour before her first race. Heading into regional, there are a few key things she wants to work on.
“I want to focus on stretching and warming up and cooling down,” Thompson said. “That’s so important in any sport, just taking care of your body and stretching. Working hard in practice and giving yourself the rest you need.”