The two little girls grew up in Kenya, about 62 miles from each other, both running for the sheer joy of it.
Later, they ended up running at the same high school.
And Saturday morning Winny Koech and Linda Cheruiyot will run for UTEP, run in hopes of bringing this university a first — a first women's conference cross-country championship.
UTEP has won countless men's conference and national cross-country titles. The women have had numerous All-Americans and they have won conference indoor and outdoor track and field conference championships.
But a cross-country championship has eluded them.