Evans to run at college in Oregon

There's no doubt that recent Bigfork High School graduate Keenan Evans hit the high point of his prep sports career during his senior year, but all of his hard work will not be wasted as he has decided to continue on in track at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay.

Evans was accepted to SWOCC in May and later expressed interest in being on the school's track team.

"I think Coos Bays is a nice fit for him and then if he wants to go on from there he can," said Sue Loeffler, Bigfork's head track coach who helped Evans make his decision.

Evans said he was also invited to walk on to the track teams at Montana State University-Bozeman and MSU-Billings. However, Evans was drawn to SWOCC because of the school's small size and due to the fact that it is out of state.

"Going out there puts me out on my own because I don't know anyone else out there," Evans said.

This spring Evans toured the campus and met with the track coaches who said they were eager to continue to develop him as an athlete.

Evans will likely continue to run the 100-meter, 200-meter and the 400-meter relay. He is also being encouraged to try the hurdles and pole vaulting, and eventually work up to a decathlon. The coaches said they have set aside a partial athletic scholarship for Evans, though he said he was unsure of the exact amount.

"I'm looking forward to running in college, but at the same time I'm pretty nervous," Evans said. "It's going to be a different ball game because it's college and a big step up from high school."

While at Bigfork, he played soccer for two seasons, ran one season of cross country and did track and basketball all four years. This spring he broke the school record in the 100-meter in Whitefish with his time of 10.82.

Then at the District 7B Meet, he broke the meet record in the 200-meter with his time of 22.31. Evans went on to take first at the Class B State meet in the 100 and 200. His 100 time was 11.32 and his 200 time was 22:68. He also ran the second leg of the boys 400-meter relay team which also placed first at state.

While visiting SWOCC, Evans happened to run into the school's basketball coach who told him he could be on both the basketball team and the track team if he'd like.

"I told them I would think about it, but I just want to focus on the college thing first and track. I might play though," Evans said.

Even though Evans made a name for himself his senior year, it wasn't too long ago that he was easily looked over.

"I never thought I'd run track in college. I didn't even really ever think about competing in college in anything. I just never saw it coming," Evans said.

However, he used his senior year to climb to the top in both basketball and track, which did not go unnoticed by his coaches or fans.

"It shows you what hard work and a great attitude can do for you," Loeffler said.

Evans credits Loeffler and Vikings head basketball coach Paul La Mott for helping push him to the next level for his final year of high school sports.

"Until this year I just let a lot of the pressure keep me from being as good of a player as I could have been," Evans said. "It sounds weird, but everyone always expected me to be good at sports because I'm black and that put a lot of pressure on me. I just didn't think I could live up to everyone's expectations."

The hard work and hours in the gym gave Evans the confidence he needed to find success and with each success came more confidence and more love for his sports, especially track.

"I like track because it's all on you. I really started to like track this year," Evans said. "I really like the adrenaline rush I get right before the gun goes off. I think track is the sport that you can really display your athleticism in."

Evans will start school, and conditioning practices, the last week of September. He has not decided exactly what he will major in, but he is leaning toward something in a sports-related field.

"None of this would be happening if it wasn't for my family, friends and coaches," Evans said. "The next level will have its challenges, but I have to go in with the mindset of being the best I can be."