WEEKEND WRAP: Steagall runs outstanding 3,000-meter steeplechase

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on April 25, 2016 1:48 PM

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UMO Media Relations

DURHAM -- Universty of Mount Olive senior Austin Steagall made just his second appearance in the 3,000-meter steeplechase a memorable outing during the Duke Invitational.

Steagall completed the course in 8 minutes, 58.44 seconds -- a personal-best time that surpassed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard by a whopping 17 seconds. It is the fourth-best national time recorded this season.

Teammate Adam Craig emerged as a provisional qualifier with a time of 14:25.16 in the 5,000 meters. It was a personal-best performance for Craig and the fourth-best time in UMO history.

Jacob Urys broke his own school record in the 800 -- crossing the line in 1:51.77, which also put him on the NCAA provisional qualifying list. Guillermo Rendon-Alcala posted a personal best in the 200 meters (22.11), while senior Aki Kitigawa turned in a PR (personal record) of 3:58.57 in the 1,500 meters, which is seventh-best all-time in program history.

On the women's side, Bailee Henry improved on her own school record in the 1,500 meters (4:46.84) and reset her own school record in the 800 run (2:18.98).

Kelsey Valentine (5,000 meters), Shona Blades (1,500) and Paulena Kennedy (800) also recorded PRs during the meet.

The Trojans return action Friday and Saturday in the season-ending Conference Carolinas championship meet at Lees-McRae College.

Tennis

MOUNT OLIVE -- The University of Mount Olive men and women celebrated senior day with a sweep of Conference Carolinas foe Limestone at the Walker Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.

Each team posted a 6-3 win over the Saints.

On the men's side, UMO led 2-1 after doubles via victories from the No. 2 tandem of Jose Cortijos/Martim Sousa and the No. 3 duo of Martin Moser/Yannic Stark.

Moser, Sousa, Stark and Sherzod Akramov each triumphed in singles play. Akramov, the No. 6 seed, turned back the Saints' Luka Stanec 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-5).

Limestone grabbed a 2-1 lead after the completion of the doubles matches in women's play. But the Trojans limited the Saints to just one singles point and rallied for their eighth win in their last nine outings.

Stella Di Michele, Paulina Delgado, Mulan Bartz, Mariana Gamboa and Nicole La Chappelle each prevailed in singles play. Bartz and Delgado needed three sets to defeat their respective opponent.

UMO returns to action next weekend in the season-ending Conference Carolinas tournament. The winner automatically qualifies for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.

Baseball

MOUNT OLIVE -- Belmont Abbey pushed across the game-deciding run in the top half of the 12th inning and defeated University of Mount Olive, 3-2, in game two of their doubleheader Saturday evening.

The Trojans trailed 2-0 until designated hitter Stephen Wallace belted a solo home run and David Mayo scored on a 10-pitch RBI groundout by Bradley Ragan to tie it at 2-all in the bottom of the fourth.

Zak Orrison emerged from the doubleheader as the school's all-time career leader in stolen bases with 108. He swiped second base in the opener, and collected three additional SBs in the nightcap.

Austin Hutchison limited Belmont Abbey to two earned runs and logged 12 strikeouts in an eight-inning stint. Dario Santangelo (2-3) endured the loss despite a three-hit, four-strikeout performance on the rubber.

The Trojans (25-18 overall) concluded league play 16-10 and clinched a berth in the season-ending conference tournament, which begins later this week in Burlington. It's just the second time in the last 10 years that UMO will not enter as the No. 1 seed.