By Jacob Most

May 7, 2014 –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Recognition continues to roll in for Andrew Evans after he produced the fifth-farthest discus throw in collegiate history last weekend.

The senior was named to The Bowerman Watch List by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday.

Evans became the first male Wildcat in history to be considered for collegiate track and field’s most prestigious award. UK has had two women’s team members – Dezerea Bryant and Kendra Harrison – named to the women’s watch list multiple times this season.

Evans’ performance at last weekend’s Tennessee Challenge was the catalyst to being named to the watch list. He overtook rival watch list member and 2013 The Bowerman finalist Julian Wruck of UCLA for the top mark in the nation and jumped to No. 4 on the all-time collegiate performers list with two all-time top-10 collegiate throws.

His winning mark of 66.37m/217-9 put him at No. 3 on the world list and more than four feet ahead of defending national champion Wruck on the collegiate list.

Also in the hunt for the discus title is another rival Watch List member in Texas’ Ryan Crouser, the defending national shot put champion who also sits No. 10 on the discus list.

Evans will have plenty of opportunities to continue impressing on a national level in postseason meets throughout the coming weeks.

Such chances will begin at next weekend’s Southeastern Conference Championships, which will take place on his home field against the Nos. 3 and 4 performers in the nation this season.

Evans, the 2012 SEC Discus Champion, will try to overcome defending conference champion Rodney Brown (LSU). Evans defeated Brown for the 2012 SEC Title when the meet was held at LSU.

Tennessee’s Tavis Bailey, who threw the third-best discus mark in the NCAA this year: 64.51m/211-8 in a second-place performance at the Tennessee Classic will also challenge for the title. Bailey is 1-1 against Evans this year having defeated him at the Florida Relays, but lost to the Wildcat last weekend.

Brown is 2-1 against Evans dating back to last season’s SEC Championships – where Brown won in addition to a victory at the 2014 Texas Relays. Evans finished third at the 2013 NCAA Championships, while Brown was fourth. Brown’s season-best of 64.26m/210-10 ranks fourth in the NCAA this year.

The 2014 SEC Championships will be held at the UK Outdoor Track and Field Complex from May 15-18. The discus championship will be contested on Saturday, May 17 beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.