CANTON — Jeremy Mwenda and Steve Kiplagat are well-aware of the assumptions that people make about them: They are from Kenya, so they must automatically be great runners.

The two members of the St. Lawrence University men's cross country team have lived with that expectation and have become key runners on the Saints squad, though both are humble about their abilities.

Mwenda, a sophomore, is from Meru, Kenya, and never was part of a running team until he joined SLU's outdoor track and field team last spring.

"I wasn't that much interested (in running) in high school," Mwenda said. "We would have track events and cross country, but I would not (compete), it was more like a school activity. I've developed a passion for running."

Kiplagat. a freshman from Iten, Kenya, attended St. Patrick's High School, one of the most prestigious schools for runners in the country. Three-time Boston Marathon winner Ibrahim Hussein is an alumnus of the institution.

"Ninety percent of the people where I'm from are runners," Kiplagat said. "If I go back there now I'd be the (last-place) one."

It wasn't running that brought the two Kenyans to Canton. Both plan on studying economics and computer science, and came to the campus hoping to someday earn jobs in a computer field.

"I've had a great experience at SLU," Mwenda said. "I've liked everybody here and it's a great opportunity to advance academically."

Said Kiplagat, "I like the school and I've made some friends."

While winning a Boston Marathon is probably not in the future for either Mwenda or Kiplagat, SLU coach John Newman doesn't mind if other schools see a pair of Kenyans running in SLU uniforms and get intimidated.

"They give our program an international flavor and add the Kenyan mystique to our program," Newman said. "(Teammates) have encouraged them and I think they like having Kenyans on our team."

Mwenda has already been in Canton for a full school year, so he's experienced more of the newness than Kiplagat. Probably the biggest adjustment was when winter hit and he saw snow for the first time.

"That wasn't that good for me," Mwenda said. "I kind of got tired of seeing snow. Every morning I was asking, "When is this going to end?' It used to affect my hands a lot. My (fingernails) would get cold and itchy when we had to run in the cold."

Mwenda has already warned Kiplagat about what's coming, and Kiplagat's response was, "I'm not looking forward to that."

The weather isn't the only factor to which the runners have had to adjust. While some Americans may have misconceptions about Kenya, and assume everyone there is interested in running, Mwenda and Kiplagat also had some misconceptions about America.

Mwenda, for example, was surprised to see all the trees in St. Lawrence County.

"Where I'm from, it's not that green," Mwenda said. "We don't have many trees, but people plant their own little orchards. The first time I came here I wasn't expecting to find so many trees. I kind of thought you guys had cut down all your trees."

Kiplagat has already picked up a taste in food that may harm his ability to stay in shape.

"I really like hamburgers," Kiplagat said.