Missouri State sophomore Terry Phillips will travel to Fayetteville, Ark., on Wednesday to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship.  Phillips will need to finish in the top 5 in her heat or one of the four next fastest times in Wednesday’s 7:50 p.m. race to advance to Friday’s finals. 

Phillips has already had a phenomenal season as she is the only Bear competing at the NCAA National Championship meet.  She earned the automatic bid on the strength of her fifth-place finish at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship with a time of 10:35.57. 

“It’s an honor to be able to represent Missouri State at the National Championship meet,” said Phillips.  “I want to finish out this season on a high note.  I try to take things one race at a time and it will be no different at the National meet this week.”

This season, Phillips has broken the Missouri State school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase twice with times of 10:27.19 and 10:19.45 to qualify for NCAA Regionals.  She earned All-MVC honors for the indoor season in the mile run and 5,000-meter run, for the outdoor season in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and for cross country.  She was also named All-Midwest Region in cross country last fall.  She was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete team with a 4.00 GPA in Biochemistry and received the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honor for the week of April 6-12.

“Terry set some lofty goals following last year’s Regional Championship,” recalled Coach Greg Hipp.  “To accomplish those goals, I told her she'd need to run at least 10:20 this spring and that if she could do that she could get to Nationals.  She's run 10:19 so far which puts her right on pace for her long term goals.  Terry has worked hard all season and she's ready for a great race on Wednesday.”

John McDonnell Field at the University of Arkansas will host the National Championship on June 10-13.  Events begin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.