SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Samford juniors Tray Oates and Karisa Nelson competed at the USATF Outdoor Championships this weekend at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium.
 
Nelson competed in the women's 1,500 meters Thursday evening. She finished fourth in Heat 2, just short of qualifying for the finals with a time of 4:15.18. Nelson was attempting to move into third place and a qualifying spot, but got tripped up on the last turn and finished in fourth.
 
Oates finished eighth in the men's pole vault final. He jumped a season-best 5.60 (18-4 ½).
 
The meet wraps up a stellar junior season for the two Samford athletes. Nelson claimed the school's first NCAA Division I national title in the indoor mile, and she finished third in the nation in the outdoor 1,500 meters. Oates reached the NCAA Indoor Championships, and he qualified for the NCAA Regional Meet in the outdoor season, both in the pole vault.