He made his first appearances at international level in 1981. At the 1981 IAAF World Cup, his performance in the 4×100-meter relay alongside Mel Lattany, Stanley Floyd and Steve Williams brought the United States team the bronze medal. A gold medal in that event also came at that year's Universiade, as the American team of Lattany, Ketchum, Jason Grimes and Calvin Smith topped the podium.