Mississippi selected cross country and track student-athlete Barnabas Kirui to represent the school to the national media in Oxford for the planned presidential debate Friday night. Kirui was one of 23 students selected to represent the school in student interviews.

It was unclear whether the debate, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Mississippi’s campus, would take place as scheduled in the wake of the country’s financial crisis.

A native of Kapalong, Kenya, Kirui will speak for the international students across campus. He also would guide media members around campus.

“It is an honor for a debate of such magnitude to take place at our university,” Kirui said. “As an international student from Kenya, the debate will provide me with an insight in American politics. There is no doubt that the whole world is following the events as they unfold, so it will be interesting to see how the world’s leading democracy will handle the debate.”

A junior, Kirui was a scholar-athlete and conference male athlete of the year in 2007. He is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was the SEC cross country champion.