Big 12 cross country championships today

? Kansas University’s cross country teams will be hoping for upper-half finishes in the team standings at today’s Big 12 Conference championships.

The KU men appear to have the best chance of a high placing. The Jayhawks are 7-1 against conference foes.

Freshman Benson Chesang has led the men in every race this year, gathering three second-place finishes and winning Big 12 runner-of-the-week honors.

Chris Jones and Cameron Schwehr also have been consistent high finishers.

The KU men are ranked first in the Midwest Region and 28th in the nation.

An improvement from last year’s eighth-place finish seems likely for the men, but the women went 2-6 against league foes this fall.

Top runners for the Kansas women have been junior Megan Manthe and freshman Laura Major. Seniors Laura Lavoie, Paige Higgins and Lauren Brownrigg also are solid.

The KU women are ranked ninth in the Midwest Region.

Today’s competition will be at Barton Creek Lakeside Golf Course. The men’s 8K will begin at 9 a.m. and the women’s 6K at 10 a.m.