UTEP Freshman Emmanuel Korir Wins Brutus Hamilton Challenge 800 Meters in Impressive Fashion

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

Emmanuel Korir of UTEP continues to impress in his first year in the NCAA. His freshman year has included an NCAA Indoor Championship over 800 meters, a world best in the indoor 600 meters and a 44.67 in the 400 meters at last week's UTEP Invitational.

This week, Korir won the 800 meters at the Brutus Hamilton Challenge in Berkeley, California. His time of 1:43.72 is the second fastest ever in the NCAA.

However, it is not just the time that is impressive, but the way Korir ran it. According to Bret Bloomquist of the El Paso Times, the meet provided a rabbit to help pull Korir to a fast time, but the 21-year old freshman from Iten, Kenya, left the rabbit behind on his opening lap.

Korir completed his first lap in 52.48. He then ran his second lap faster, running 51.25 for the final 400 meters. Korir won going away, finishing eight seconds ahead of second place.

"He's capable of 1:42, 1:41," distance coach Paul Ereng told the El Paso Times.

Given the way Korir ran negative splits by himself in such a fast race, it seems likely he could run faster. Usually the fastest 800-meter races are run with slight positive splits, the second lap a second or two slower than the first lap.

If Korir can get himself into the right race with the right conditions, it seems likely he could better the 1:43.55 record Donavan Brazier set at the NCAA Outdoor Championships last year.