WKU senior Joseph Chebet was named Sun Belt Conference Men’s Runner of the Week on Wednesday.

This is Chebet’s first year running cross country for the Toppers. Chebet, a 2011 midyear transfer, was unable to compete last season.

Chebet got his WKU cross country career off to an impressive start, placing second overall in the Belmont Opener 5K race with a time of 15:18.70 minutes.

“It was a great start (for Chebet), he knows where he needs to be,” coach Erik Jenkins said, “He needs to just continue to work hard to be there.”

Chebet is no stranger to awards. Even with this being his first as a member of the Topper cross country team, he did run his way to all-Sun Belt honors at four indoor and outdoor track events last spring.

WKU was picked to reclaim both their women’s and men’s titles in the preseason Sun Belt coach’s poll.

WKU is also ranked 10^th in the Southeast Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

“We are looking forward to being successful down the road,” Jenkins said.