Kansas senior cross country runner Mark Menefee remembers how silly he sounded as a sophomore.

“I thought I was going to be an All-American that first year,” said the Buhler native and Hutchinson Community College transfer, who received much acclaim after finishing fifth at the national junior college championship meet.

“It’s tougher than that.”

Real tough.

Menefee has endured four years of injury-plagued inconsistency which insulted his attitude that he should be ranked among America’s top 20 runners – the criteria for making the All-America team.

Having never even won a collegiate race until this season, Menefee’s chance of the prestigious honor seemed nothing more than a pipe dream, which all but ended last weekend when he finished eighth at the Midwest Regional.

But Menefee’s dream didn’t die in Normal, Ill.

Thanks to an at-large invitation to today’s NCAA championship race in Terre Haute, Ind., Menefee will get one final race to run for everything he’s ever wanted.

“I was not expecting to make it,” said Menefee, who out of optimism was training at Rim Rock Farm Monday before learning of his fortunate opportunity. “I know I’m good enough to go. I’d really have been confident if I’d finished at least sixth, but eighth place is really on the edge. I think I was pretty lucky.”

Luck has been on Menefee’s side his senior season.

He won his first race ever as a Jayhawk in his final competitive run at Rim Rock, the course which lured him to Lawrence.

He’s been solid throughout this season and spectacular at times, like when he finished 10th at the Pre-Nationals in October on the same course he has conditioned himself for today.

The biggest blessing, Menefee says, is he hasn’t been bumming because of injuries.

“I made it through the season, that’s the biggest plus,” said Menefee, whose career at KU has been marred by him resting and not racing.

First Menefee had a bout with his iliotibial band – the muscle that extends from the thigh to the knee.

Next was a respiratory track infection. Then he suffered from plantar fasciitis – pain in the underside of the foot.

Finally, Menefee was missing in action because of mono.

But Menefee says that’s all in the past, and today, for his final race, he’s in tip-top condition.

“My goal is to be an All-American, that’s what I’m running for,” said Menefee, the first Jayhawk to qualify individually for the NCAAs since current volunteer assistant coach Charlie Gruber in 2000.

“I’ve got to remember to run my race and not get carried away.”

If Menefee does, he might provide the perfect ending to a problematic past.

“This is my extra chance,” Menefee said. “I’ve put in a lot of years and I just want to run a race that I’ll be proud to look back on.”