American distance runners have spent much of the past two decades losing to Kenyans and Ethiopians. Now the U.S. just might be on the verge of fixing that problem—if a fast Kenyan named Edward Cheserek becomes an American.

A sophomore at Oregon, the 5-foot-6 Cheserek is well on his way to becoming one of the best college distance runners ever, a combination of talent, confidence, dedication, patience and humility whose potential looks limitless.

Just 21 years old, Cheserek will defend his national indoor title in the 3,000-meter race at the NCAA championships this weekend in Fayetteville, Ark., where he will also be a favorite in the mile. He won the indoor 5,000 last year, but is passing on that race this time around to focus on gaining speed.

In November, he won his second consecutive cross-country national championship, keeping alive his hopes for an unprecedented four cross-country titles. Not even the legendary Steve Prefontaine, who won seven national championships at Oregon, pulled off that feat. Last spring, Cheserek won the outdoor national championship in the 10,000 and finished a close second in the 5,000. Already, Cheserek has five national collegiate titles.

For Cheserek, who came to the U.S. five years ago to attend a New Jersey prep school, racing is a pretty simple endeavor, regardless of the distance. “I run smart and then kick,” he said in a recent interview in New York, where he finished eighth against a world-class field of pros in the Millrose Games’ Wanamaker Mile.