Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina men's track and field swept this week's Southern Conference indoor weekly awards for the first time since 2019 as Ian Hicks and Kolton Weaver were named the SoCon's Indoor Men's Track & Field Athletes of the Week.  

The weekly honor is the first of both of their careers, joining Chattanooga's Maddie Wheatcroft and Stella Henry in the spotlight. The duo are the first men's Catamount student-athletes to sweep the weekly awards since Trini Feggett (field) and Chace Washington-Saunders (track) did so in 2019.

Kolton Weaver was one of three Catamounts to take a second-place finish at the UNCA Collegiate Opener over the weekend, joining Kendal Hudson (long jump) and Hannah Kline (high jump) in the feat. Weaver's best performance came in the shot put, where the sophomore recorded a 15.42m toss on his third attempt of the day.

Weaver also recorded a personal best performance in the weight throw with a 14.90m launch on his second attempt, taking sixth place in the event. The Matthews, N.C. native currently leads the conference in the shot put and ranks sixth in the league in the weight throw.

One of WCU's top sprinters to see the track at the Tryon International Indoor Facility last weekend, Ian Hicks claimed his first career weekly honor after posting a personal record in the 300m sprint. His 34.86s finish in the event took third place as he was one of only three athletes with a sub-35s time. Hicks is currently one of the top sprinters in the SoCon in terms of finishes, as the Hendersonville, N.C. product sits second in the 200m behind only Delton Jones.

Hicks and Weaver will be back in action this weekend as the Catamounts return to Mill Springs, N.C., and the Tryon International indoor facility for the Tryon International Winter Invitational. The first two-day meet of WCU's season runs from Jan. 16-17.