Chesang Finishes Seventh at NCAA Championships

Nov. 22, 2004

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

University of Kansas cross country star Benson Chesang proved that he was one of the best runners in the country Monday with a seventh place finish at the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships. The meet featured the top 200 runners in the country.

Chesang’s 10k time of 30:59.4 was just 22 seconds behind Wisconsin’s Simon Bairu who finished first with a time of 30:37.7.

“The course was really muddy and wet today,” Chesang said. “I started from the back in the first 5k and I picked it up after that. I just kept moving up until the end of the race.”

Chesang, who was the 2004 Big 12 Champion, placed 48th in the event as a freshman.

“I thought Benson had a great race, and a great strategy,” Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. “Everything he did today was perfect, when it came time for him to make a move, he did. I’m just excited for him because he ran a great race.”

Big 12 champions Colorado won both the men’s and women’s race placing. The Buffaloes placed two in the top 10 in both races.

Chesang’s caps off a great cross country season in which he was the first ever Big 12 Champion for Kansas in cross country. The last Jayhawk to win an individual conference title and national title was John Lawson, who won the Big Eight Championship and the NCAA Championship in 1965.

With the 2004 cross country season in the books, Chesang and Redwine will prepare for the indoor track season which begins December 13.

Chesang’s 2004 race by race results:

Roy Griak Invitational (8K)
11th – 24:38

NCAA Pre-Nationals (8K)
3rd – 23:54.6

Big 12 Championships (8k)
1st – 24:08

NCAA Midwest Regional (10k)
6th – 30:30.74

NCAA Championships (10k)
7th – 30:59.4