TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Samford University track and field teams continued competition on day two of the John Mitchell Alabama Relays on Friday, March 20, hosted by the University of Alabama at the Sam Bailey Track Stadium.

Redshirt freshman Tray Oates stole the show in the men's pole vault on Friday. The Acworth, Ga. native eclipsed his previous outdoor personal best of 5.16m with a first place finish and school record tying mark of 5.30m (17-4 ½). Oates now sits tied with Michael Seaman as the school's all-time leader in the men's pole vault.

Also, the impressive score currently stands as the best score in the Southern Conference  right ahead of freshman Gavin Gautreau who posted a 5.05m (16-6 ¾) took third place finish in the event.

Sophomore Jay Vines tallied a top ten finish and a personal best time of 54.63 in the men's 400 meter hurdles. Vines, a native of Dandridge, Tennessee, set a personal best time of 54.93 in the event back in 2014 at the SoCon Outdoor Championships as a freshman.

Hoover, Alabama native Sarah Sanford eclipsed another milestone in the women's 400 meter dash with a fifth place finish time of 56.58. The time currently stands as her personal best in the event.

A trio of Bulldogs turned in top ten performances in the men's 1,500 meters at the midway point of Friday's meet. Brandon Hazouri placed second with a time of 3:47.48 while teammates Adam Jones (4:48.81) and Arse'ne Guillorel (3:48.92) placed sixth and seventh consecutively.

Freshman Tiana Pisoni posted an impressive overall seventh place finish with an 11.98m leap in the triple jump. Pisoni bettered her score from last week's mark of 11.70m at the Battle of I-65 meet on March 14, at the Samford Track and Soccer Complex.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, March 21, at noon with the women's discus throw. The first running event of the day will start at 2 p.m. with the women's 1x100 meter race.