Big 12 Conference cross country champion Benson Chesang will represent Kansas University at the NCAA championships today in Terre Haute, Ind.

Chesang, a sophomore from Kenya, finished 48th in last year’s NCAA meet in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

“I think he has a good chance to finish near the top if he has a perfect race,” KU coach Stanley Redwine said of Chesang. “I believe he’ll do a great job. He’s focused and ready to race.”

Chesang, the Jayhawks’ first league champion in cross country since John Lawson in 1965, finished sixth at the NCAA Midwest Regional with a 10K clocking of 30:30.74. No other KU runners qualified.

The NCAA Championships will be on the grounds of the Wabash Valley Sports Center in Terre Haute. The men’s race is scheduled to begin at 12:15 p.m.