UTEP sophomore Emmanuel Korir begins his first full pro season by becoming third-fastest indoor 800-meter runner.
UTEP student Emmanuel Korir knew he was in a good place — good in training, in fitness and in life in general.
He headied into his first race in his first full season as a pro track athlete at the Millrose Games in New York City Feb. 3 in that good place.
For the most part, he's done surprising himself just one year after his stunning ascendancy from unknown to track superstar. But there's still room to be pleasantly pleased as he balances his new life as a pro with being a college sophomore.
That was the case when Korir opened his indoor season with an 800 meter time of 1 minute, 44.21 seconds that made the Nike athlete the third fastest indoor 800 runner ever and the fastest in 17 years.
The 22-year-old beat a field loaded with fellow pros, as the second- and third-place finishers, Donavan Brazier (1:45.35) and Drew Windle (1:45.53) ran the second- and third-fastest times ever by Americans. They had no answer when Korir unleashed his typically devastating kick with half a lap to go.
"I knew there was something, I knew we were in a good pace, we had a pacesetter," Korir said Wednesday after returning from a short trip to Kenya to attend a family member's funeral. "I was thinking we could run maybe 1:45 ... But that's not a big deal, there's a long ways to go."
The world indoor competition coming up in Birmingham, Ala., Korir said he'll kick it up a notch.
"I going to look for a little faster. But I won't be after time, I'll be after a medal," he said. "Maybe after that I'll look for a good time."
His coach Paul Ereng said he thought Korir would run a 1:45 because of how UTEP sophomore Michael Saruni is running.
"You see those two train together, so when I saw Michael break the 600 world record and came back and ran 1:45.15, I knew right there," he said.
"I got a call from the people at the Millrose Games asking what kind of shape (Korir) was in. I said he was in good shape," Ereng said. " 'What do you think he's going to run?' I said, 'I don't know, but he's going to win the race for sure and he's going to run fast. I don't know how fast, but very.' Michael had run 1:45, the leading time in a while; 1:44.21 is a time that has not been run in the last 17 years. It's impressive."
So far, everything about Korir's transition from college to pro has been smooth. He's taking a light load of four courses this spring (two online), and works with his professors for things like a week-long trip to Kenya.
"It's not that tough," Korir said. "I set my classes so I can run my races. I organize my training around that, my professors consider it."
"I'm happy right now, I'm happy training with those guys, Saruni and Jonah (Koech)," Korir said. "Sometimes I train on my own because of class, but I'm used to training alone, too. I'm doing well right now."
He's also finding that he has more time as a pro than as a collegian when there is a meet on the schedule almost every week from January through June.
"I had to do a lot of running," Korir said about last year. "Now I can decide what races I want to run. In the NCAA I had to run a lot."
This is also a good year to be making a transition to the professional ranks.
Other than the comparatively low-key World Indoors in two weeks, there are no outdoor World Championships or Olympics this year. There is the Commonwealth Games that are open to Kenyans (and every country in the British Commonwealth), but they are in Australia in the middle of UTEP's spring semester so those are out.
"He has some time to figure things out," Ereng said. "Last year he didn't compete internationally, he had no experience in international running (going into the World Championships, where he was eliminated in the semifinals). This gives him more time to figure out what works."
Ereng can already see a difference in Korir.
"He's more mature, he can execute a race better," Ereng said. "Last year he was ready to run fast, but a couple of times he had injuries, that made us cautious. Now he knows how to navigate and execute. He's more mature."
That sets Korir up for big things. Last year he ran a 1:43.10 — the fastest in the world in 2017.
"Now my goal is 1:42, maybe 1:41," said Korir, and it's worth noting the world record is 1:40.91. "I'm working for that. I'll be ready."
Ran meet record 1:44.21 in 800 meters to win Millrose Games, the fourth-fastest indoor 800 time ever, making him the third fastest individual in world history.
Ran world-leading 1:43.10 last year, his freshman season at UTEP.
Won NCAA championship in 800 both indoors and outdoors in 2017.
Won Kenyan world championship trials.