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.

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