DES MOINES, IOWA -- With an NCAA DII provisional mark and his best time of 2021, Mason Phillips placed fourth in the 1,500 meters in 3:50.30 to highlight the performances by the University of Sioux Falls Track and Field Squad on Friday (April 23) at the Drake Relays.

The clocking by Phillips is the fourth-best all-time outdoors at USF but off his career best of 3:47.98 in 2019. Still, his 1,500-meter performance today ranks second in the NSIC this season. Freshman Ben Morrison was 25^th in the race in 4:10.72.

In the 4x100 meter relay, USF also had a quality effort. They registered a season-best 48.83 in placing 12^th with a relay squad of KaNya Henderson, Mercy Oyadare, Emma Kenkel and Natalie Meyers. They bettered their time of 48.94 at the Sioux City Relays and had the ninth best time in program history. It ranks as the seventh best time in the NSIC this year.

In the women's 100-meter dash, Henderson was fifth in 12.63, which is a top 10 program mark although off her record of 12.07 set earlier this spring. As a result, she advances to the finals on Saturday morning.

"I was really pleased with our performances today," said USF Director of Track and Field Doug Petersen. "It was a good day and we are looking forward to the race tomorrow," he added.

Also in the morning, David Ecker and Aaron Voigt will compete in the 3,000 meter college steeplechase also Saturday morning. Ecker has the NSIC's top steeplechase time of 9:22.98 at the South Dakota Challenge on April 9. At 9:46.70, Voigt ranks fifth in the NSIC as he also had his time at the South Dakota Challenge at USD.