DES MOINES - Lee Eppie placed his name on the short list of Iowa Central athletes to claim a Drake Relays title, winning the 400 here Friday morning.

Eppie posted a time of 47.28, besting Briar Cliff's Ben Jefferies, who finished right behind him in 47.43. 

Corey Lyons of St. Mary out of Kansas was third and Hawkeye's Blake Osborn placed fourth. 

Eppie, Jefferies and Lyons all came out of the third and final heat.

"I had two guys running with them that I knew would run 47s," Eppie said. "That helped push me towards the end."

Back at the University of South Dakota Challenge earlier this year, Eppie nearly broke the Iowa Central school record in the 400, winning in 46.68. He also placed third in the 400 at the NJCAA Indoor Championships back in March, breaking the school record in the event.

"The race was okay," Eppie said. "The problem was that it was too cold and windy, but now I know what to fix going into championship season. It's a good step going forward."

James MacKey Jr. placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 49.27m (161-7). MacKey recorded his best toss on his sixth and final throw having also posted a 49.10m on his third try.

Hannah Connell clocked the fastest time in the 100 hurdles, winning her heat in 14.71. 

Jaheem Hayles advanced to the 110 hurdle finals with the second-fastest time at 14.38. Jerome Jessup and Hayden Cobbs both advanced to the 100 finals with the third and fourth best times.

Jessup went 10.9 and Cobbs 10.95. 

Odell Frye recorded the quickest prelim time in the 100, going 12.22 to move into the finals.

The women's 4x100 relay of Janae Barksdale, Tamara Roby, Connell and Frye qualified for the finals with a time of 47.21, fourth-fastest out of prelims. The men's 4x100 of Cobbs, Eppie, Hayles and Jessup also advanced with the sixth-best prelim time at 41.64. 

-By Dana Becker