Athletics: Emmanuel Korir breaks African Indoor record

Emmanuel Korir (In front) breaks the African indoor record in 800m at the NYRR Millrose Games [Photo:Courtesy]

Kenyan sensation Emmanuel Korir blasted a 1:44.21 on his return, breaking the African Indoor record with victory in the 800m at the NYRR Millrose Games in New York on Saturday. The record he set moved him to position three on the world all-time list indoors. He was followed by Donavan Brazier (1:45.35) and Drew Windle (1:45.53), who moved to position two and three, respectively, on the U.S. all-time list indoors.

Korir broke the Kenya National record of 1:44.71 initially held by Joseph Mwengi Mutua set on January 31, 2004 during the Sparkassen Cup in Stuttgart, Germany.

During the London World Championships last year, Korir fell in the semi-finals despite being a favorite after running a world lead of 1:43.10 with victory in Monaco in July. The 22 years Kenyan born erased the African record of 1:44.52 set by Ethiopian Mohammed Aman at Aviva Indoor Grand Prix on February 15, 2014, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Emmanuel Korir crosses the finish line to win the 800m at the NYRR Millrose Games [Photo:Courtesy]

Korir announced himself to American fans with two superlative performances in January, a world-leading 1:46.50 800 in Nashville on January 14, 2017 and that 1:14.97 600 in Albuquerque a week later, but his talent was clear to Ereng when he began recruiting Korir last summer.

Korir had only begun training for the 800m in April 2016, but by May 2016 he had already qualified for the final of the Kenyan Championships, where he ran a personal best of 1:46.94 to take eighth. Ereng had seen enough to offer Korir a scholarship, and he came to the U.S. in August 2016.

Korir spent most of his life training as 400m runner. Ereng had to work with Korir to help him increase his mileage to develop the endurance to survive preliminary rounds if he were to one day run the 800m at a high level.