34 years ago, a track-and-field star at UK and then the Olympics is born in Kentucky
Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history - some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.
Jan. 25, 1991: Andrew Evans, University of Kentucky discus thrower and Olympic athlete is born.
Evans was born in Portage, Michigan, and competed in track and field as a discus thrower in high school at Portage Northern High School. During his high school career, he finished second in the state as a sophomore, made the fifth-furthest discus throw in the state’s history at 192 feet, seven inches and was named to the All-State team as a junior and senior.
In 2010 he competed in the World Junior Track and Field Competitions and finished in 10th place.
In 2011, he came to the University of Kentucky. In 2012, he was named the SEC Discus Champion and later named an All-American after finishing seventh in the discus at the NCAA Championships.
His hammer throw mark at the SEC championships was UK’s sixth-best in the school record books, while his discus mark at the Texas Relays made him the No. 7 Wildcat of all time in the event.
The next year, in outdoor events, he was an NCAA bronze medalist in the discus with a personal best of 206 feet. That year he was also named first-team All-American and won the discus at the Heart of the Bluegrass Classics, the Kentuckiana Border Battle and the USF Bulls Invitational.
After college, Evans went pro and entered the 2015 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships where he took third place with his personal best throw at 214 feet, seven inches.
Evans went on to compete in the Summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and in Paris in 2024.
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 3:42 PM.
