Caren Kipsirat set a new school record in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase to headline a strong weekend from the Wolverine distance runners as Utah Valley competed at the ULV Leopard Invitational, Bryan Clay Invite, and Mt. SAC Relays.

Kipsirat eclipsed Oakley Olsen’s previous record by three seconds with a time of 10:15.28 to take sixth overall at the Bryan Clay Invite. Kipsirat’s time ranks among the top 40 nationally and leads the WAC by over 30 seconds. Fellow steepler Kaitelyn Emmons posted a new PR at 10:42.04 to move up a spot to eighth all-time.

The 5000-meter saw three top-three marks on Friday night. Morgan Nokes made her season debut in the event and immediately posted the top time in the WAC this season at 15:31.20. On the men’s side, Sila Kiplagat and Jayden Fitzgarrald both improved on their season bests, with Kiplagat shaving about 17 seconds off his PR at the Utah Tech Invitational at 13:49.23 and Fitzgarrald improving by about 20 seconds at 13:54.22. Kiplagat and Fitzgarrald now own the second- and third-best times in UVU history.

Reagan Doman made her Wolverine debut in the 10k on Thursday night, posting the fifth-best time in program history at 33:24.35 and the second-best time in the WAC this year behind only Nokes.

A pair of throwers posted new PR’s, with Grace Degarimore inching her way closer to the shot put record at 15.78m — improving by over a meter from her previous best of 14.71m. Degarimore is now 0.38m away from breaking Utah Valley’s longest-standing record in any event, set by former Swedish national champion Helena Engman in 1999. In the discus, Cale Stinebaugh also saw a big jump in her PR, adding another meter to improve from 44.97m to 46.06m.

Jennaveve Bingham headlined the efforts from the Wolverines’ middle distance runners, hitting a new PR of 2:08.06 in the 800-meter to move from fifth to third all-time.

The final event of the weekend saw Utah Valley’s men’s 4×100 squad post a new season best of 39.54, the sixth-best all-time and among the top 40 in the nation so far this campaign.

Utah Valley will have next week off as a team before wrapping up the regular season at the Robison Invitational in Provo and the SUU Coliseum Championships.

UVU baseball

Utah Valley had the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning but ultimately fell, 6-5, to Utah Tech on Saturday night in the Old Hammer Rivalry. The Wolverines (15-23, 1-4) were led by Chipper Beck, who finished 2-for-4, and received solid bullpen outings from Bradley Gilbert and Maddax Peck. Hudson Manwaring and Petey Soto Jr. each had two RBIs for the Trailblazers (25-14, 4-1).

Utah Valley’s defense shined early as it turned a pair of inning-ending double plays to back starting pitcher Jacob Heppner. In the bottom of the first, Heppner got Miller Durham to ground out to DJ Massey. In the third inning, he induced Ryan Kroepel into a double play on a nice turn from Mason Hamlin to Massey.

The defense turned into offense in the bottom of the third inning, as Utah Valley tagged Utah Tech starter Dakoda West for four runs. Jimmy De Anda singled to start the inning before Hamlin doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch. Beck later drove in a run with a single to left to make it 2-0. UVU extended the lead to 3-0 with an RBI single from Strong, and he and Beck executed a double steal to make it 4-0.

The Trailblazers answered in the top of the fourth with four runs of their own, highlighted by two-run singles from Manwaring and Soto Jr.

The Wolverines threatened again in the fourth inning as West hit Derek Houston and De Anda to start the frame. Hamlin moved both runners into scoring position with one out, but Massey lined out to first base, and Durham quickly threw to third to complete a double play.

Gilbert retired the first seven hitters he faced and pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief of Heppner, who also logged 3 2/3 innings. Utah Tech broke the tie in the seventh inning on a double by Kyle McDaniel, who later scored on a single from Durham.

Orem native West pitched seven innings, allowing six hits while striking out six. He retired the final nine batters he faced.

Peck added 1 2/3 innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out one.

In the bottom of the ninth, Utah Valley mounted a final push. Strong drew a full-count walk against WAC Preseason Player of the Year Ryan Kroepel. Brody Block then doubled off the wall in right-center field, nearly tying the game and putting runners on second and third. UVU cut the deficit to 6-5 on a sacrifice fly from Houston, but Kroepel secured his 10th save with a flyout and a foul out by Hamlin.

UVU softball honors seniors

Tatum Hall hit her 10th home run of the season and Britney Moreno went 2-for-4 with an RBI as Utah Valley fell to the Tarleton State Texans, 7-2 on Senior Day on Saturday.

The Wolverines stayed within striking distance most of the afternoon, trailing 2-0 entering the sixth and 3-1 entering the seventh, but a four-run final frame from the Texans put the game to bed.

Utah Valley honored its eight graduating seniors — Angelique Mann, Kendyl Purdy, Mya Higareda, Hannah Ortega, Emma Haygood, Britney Moreno, Payge Armendariz, and Bailey Marvin — with a pregame first pitch ceremony and a postgame recognition. UVU’s eight seniors are the team’s most since 2018.

Head coach Cody Thomson started all eight seniors in their final conference game at home, with Ortega getting the start in the circle and Armendariz making her first-ever appearance in right field. Ortega continued her stellar pitching of late, holding the Texans to one ER on four hits over three-plus innings of work.

Ortega went toe-to-toe with TSU ace Shelby Schultz, trading zeroes with the Texan southpaw over the first three frames before TSU was able to break through in the fourth.

Tarleton tacked on another run in the fifth and the sixth before Hall was able to send one off the scoreboard in right center to reach double-digit home runs on the campaign. Hall is the 16th Wolverine to hit 10 or more home runs in a season, and the second left-handed batter, joining Heidi Stocks who did it twice in 2007-08.

The Texans pulled away in the seventh, plating one on a tough-luck RBI single that deflected off of Lily Riley and away from the defense. A pinch-hit three-run double from Scarlett Poole gave TSU all the insurance runs it needed.

Utah Valley put pressure on in the seventh, with Moreno picking up an RBI single, but that was all the Wolverines could get.

UVU will close out the home season on Tuesday as the Wolverines look to cap off a season series sweep of the Utah State Aggies. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. MDT, and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.