SIOUX FALLS – Led by the second place finish of Mason Phillips, the No. 7 ranked University of Sioux Falls Men's Cross Country Team finished fourth while the Women's Team was ninth at the Augustana Twilight at Yankton Trails Park on Friday.

Phillips leads USF Men's Team
Phillips, who is a two-time All-American in cross country and the NSIC Preseason Men's Athlete of the Year, clocked 18:55.89 in the four-mile course. Phillips finished behind Dais Malebana of Cloud County Community College, who finished 18:54.46. USF had three in the top 25 including senior Steven Brown, who was sixth. Brown, who is the defending NSIC champion, finished in 19:19.16. Senior Billy Beseman was 25^th in 19:56.99 as the Cougars claimed a top four or better spot for the third straight year.

The Cougars placed seven in the top 100 of the race which include 26 teams and 321 competitors. USF clocked an overall time of 1:38.53.70 which was an average of 19:46.74 among its scoring runners. Also in the top one was sophomore Aaron Voight, who finished in 20:7.76 for 45th while sophomore David Ecker was 51^st in 20:23.90 and Wyatt Schlayer, 54^th in 20:27.00. Sophomore Shodo Mahamed finished 67^th in 20:38.21 with freshman Seth Overholt finishing 99^th in 20:51.91. In addition, freshman Jeffrey Sandkuhler was 100^th in 20"52.75; freshman Abati Dedefo, 101^st, 20:53.67; junior Logan Hansen, 140^th, 21:28.53; sophomore Mitchell Mund, 148^th, 21:34.44; freshman Sam Ricker, 191^st, 22:14.49; senior Edwin Iraheta, 202^nd, 22:22.3; freshman Wil Modjeski, 248^th, 23:03.91; freshman Diego Jaimes, 253^rd, 23:11.39; and freshman Andrew Schouten, 263^rd, 23:39.65.

While USF was fourth, DI Nebraska claimed the team crown with 69 points. The rest of the top 10 included Augustana, 104; Cloud County CC, 111; Sioux Falls, 129; Nebraska-Kearney, 134; South Dakota, 178; Carleton, 212; Iowa Western, 231; Minnesota State, 239; Doane, 283.

Belford takes 31st as USF Women's finish 9th
USF Women's Team was led by senior Montana Belford, who was 31^st with a clocking of 18:54.70 in the 5,000 meter race. USF placed five runners in the top 64 runners among 306 individuals in the race. USF was ninth among 25 teams in the competition and finished fourth among NSIC squads.  DI South Dakota captured the team title with 40 points. After the Coyoutes, Nebraska as second with 67 and followed by Augustana, 98; Nebraska-Kearney, 148; Minnesota State, 156; Nebraska-Omaha, 179; Winona State, 187; Concordia (Neb.), 224; Sioux Falls, 258 and Northern State, 268.

USF totaled 1:37.15.18 in time among his top seven runners, who averaged 19:29.77. Also in the top 64 runners was freshman Annika Aho, 51^st, 19:27.26; freshman Karlee Simmons, 55^th, 19:34.01; sophomore Sarina Lindell, 57^th, 19:37.89; and freshman Cassidy O'Meara, 64^th, 19:41.32. Other USF finishers included freshman Lauren Wells, 81^st, 20:04.81; junior Tianna Wald, 84^th, 20:08.76; freshman Victoria Barkosky, 172^nd, 21:03.65; junior Sadie Thompson, 183^rd, 21:11.38; freshman Hannah Yunker, 218^th, 21:40.32; sophomore Hannah Ebert, 237^th, 22:12.39; and junior Annabelle Schulz, 258^th, 22:52.37.

Next for the USF Cross Country teams will be competing at the Roy Griak Invitational in Sept. 28.