May 30, 2014
Katie with parents Guy and Shelby Evans at the 2014 Senior Night
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Since her arrival in 2009, senior Katie Evans has solidified herself as one of the top female throwers in Mizzou history. A member of four All-Time Top Ten lists and a three-time NCAA Preliminary Round qualifier, Evans has left quite the dent in the Tiger record books.
A graduate of Putnam County R-1 High School, Evans was a two-time MSHSAA 2A State Champion in the discus and the 2009 MSHSAA 2A Champion in the shot put. The 2009 shot put All-American also broke two MSHSAA Championship records in the shot put and discus.
As a Tiger, Evans was a three-time All-Big 12 finisher in the indoor and outdoor shot put, and the discus. She went on to qualify for post-season championship competition in 2010 for the shot put and discus, and again in 2014 for the shot put.
She sits at the No. 6 spot on the Mizzou All-Time Top Ten list for the indoor and outdoor shot put, is No. 8 for the indoor weight throw, and No. 10 for the discus.
Evans also racked up a list of accolades from the classroom, making the 2012 Academic All-Big 12 and 2013 SEC Honor Roll, and was a three-time USTFCCCA (U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) All-Academic.
Evans graduated with degrees in secondary social education and history, and earned a minor in religious studies. She plans to continue her education and earn her Master's in Educational, School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology and a focus in Positive Coaching.
KATIE BY THE NUMBERS
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Two-time NCAA West Preliminaries qualifier in the shot put (2010, 2014) 2013 SEC Honor Roll |
IN KATIE'S WORDS
On how she got started...
My first experience with throwing happened when I was in fifth grade during our school's Track and Field Day. On that day, everyone was able to pick events they wanted to compete in. I threw the shot put for the first time, and threw further than any girl in the school...and the boys. I told my Dad when I got home about how far I threw, and as soon as we could, I went to as many throwing camps as I could.
Why she chose the throwing events...
In team sports growing up, I was often pushed aside or benched because of "small town politics". I liked the idea that track was an individual sport. Throwing was something no one could take away from me. Whoever throws the furthest wins.
Her favorite memory before Mizzou...
My favorite moment competing before coming to college happened when I was entering my junior year. I attended a throws clinic in Spokane, Wash., with some of the best throwers and coaches in the country. I think that's when I really fell in love with the sport. I saw amazing throwers and amazing coaches and knew that I wanted to aspire to be one of them.
On why she chose Missouri...
The current athletes were a big plus to coming to Mizzou; I was welcomed with open arms. I also enjoyed the town and felt like it was a great place to attend college.
A key moment in her career when things began to "click"...
Honestly, I have really just felt things click this year. Up at Iowa State in December when I threw my PR, things just felt right from then. I had a newfound confidence that I hadn't had my previous years, and it has shown throughout my indoor and outdoor seasons.
Her favorite Mizzou memory...
I've had some of my best experiences at Mizzou during my senior season, and it's hard to pick one. I've been blessed to be a part of it. During indoors, traveling to New York City was an amazing experience. It's not every day that we get to travel to a track meet via subway. Also, indoor SEC's was amazing. I placed sixth in the shot put and to be top eight in a conference as elite as the SEC was a huge honor, and it felt like my hard work and dedication was finally paying off, even though I didn't hit the mark I wanted to. So far outdoors, traveling to Austin, Texas, and San Diego was amazing. On our first day in San Diego, we were able to do a pre-meet shake out on the beach, and being able to throw with an ocean view with some of the best throwers in the country was incredible.
Her experience at Mizzou outside of athletics...
As athletes, we often get wrapped up in our athletic cliques. When I branched out, I met some of my best friends outside college athletics, and that really helped me balance my social life and athletic life. They let me see a side of campus life that I would never have explored. In academics, I have met some of the most amazing teachers within the School of Education at Mizzou and friends who also helped me balance my future career as a teacher, as well as my current athletic career. The advice and guidance I've gained from them cannot be understated. We are only athletes at Mizzou for four (or five, like me) short years. Even from advisers within the Athletic Department, they really do care about our lives after we graduate from college, and have helped me down my path to my future career.
On the team...
Although track and field is an individual sport, the team essence cannot be overlooked. Team is everything. My team was my backbone throughout my career, through the good times and the bad, at practices, and during competitions. Everyone is rooting for you to do the best you can do, and you're doing the same for them. In the end, we're all chasing those PR's and we are all in it together.
Future plans...
Right now I am planning on getting my Master's in Educational, School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology and a focus in Positive Coaching. I eventually plan on teaching and coaching at the high school level and someday moving up to the college level.
Q & A by Josh McSwain, Student Writer