SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Samford University track and field team swept the Southern Conference's Field Athlete of the Week awards Wednesday as the Bulldogs opened their 2018 season in brilliant fashion over the weekend at both the National Pole Vault Summit and the UAB Blazer Invitational.
 
Samford's Tray Oates was named the SoCon men's indoor field athlete of the week, while Erin Hines claimed the honors on the women's side, the conference office announced Wednesday.
 
Selections were made by a panel of the league's track and field coaches and included competition held Jan. 12-13.
 
Samford's Oates placed fourth in the elite competition of the National Pole Vault Summit in Reno, Nevada, on Friday. The redshirt senior from Acworth, Georgia, turned in a jump of 5.58 meters (18 feet, 4 inches), good for a new school record as well as the conference lead.
 
Oates' leap ranks second among NCAA DI student-athletes this indoor season and easily outdistances the SoCon record of 5.50 meters, which he set at the BSC Panther Indoor Icebreaker on Dec. 1 of this season.
 
Samford's Hines turned in the best long-jump leap of the young SoCon season at the UAB Blazer Invitational on Friday. The sophomore from Pelham, Alabama, posted a mark of 5.79 meters (19 feet) to finish second in the event. Hines also competed in a pair of track events, the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles.
 
The Samford University track and field teams will next be in action Thursday through Sunday as the Bulldogs host a trio of meets at the nationally-renown Birmingham CrossPlex. This week, they will be hosting the Samford Multi, the Samford Invitational and the Samford Open.
 
For results, schedule updates, breaking news and links to all of your favorite articles featuring the Bulldogs, please follow @Samford_Sports on Twitter.
 
2018 SoCon Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week
 
MEN'S TRACK
Jan. 17 - - - Dakota Lamont, Western Carolina
 
MEN'S FIELD
Jan. 17 - - - Tray Oates, Samford
 
WOMEN'S TRACK
Jan. 17 - - - Ty-Leah Hampton, Western Carolina
 
WOMEN'S FIELD
Jan. 17 - - - Erin Hines, Samford