According to UTEP Athletics, freshman sensation Emmanuel Korir has signed with Nike and will forgo the rest of his NCAA eligibility to run professionally. He will continue to train under UTEP associate head coach Paul Ereng in El Paso, Texas, while pursuing his education. 

"Emmanuel started running well at the start of the indoor season, that's when the idea of turning pro came up", Ereng said in a UTEP Athletics press release. "He's ranked number one in the world in the 800m and top 10 in the 400m so he has the tools to become another household name for Kenya."

The 22-year-old Korir put the world on notice in his NCAA debut this year after moving to the United States from Kenya to train with Ereng. 

2017 Highlights:
- He won the NCAA indoor 800m title after being out with an injury for three weeks leading up to the race.
- He ran a sub-45 second open 400m twice becoming the youngest to join the sub-1:47/45.0 club.
- He ran the No. 2 all-time NCAA 800m in 1:43.73 via a negative-split 52.48/51.25, becoming the third man to join the sub-1:44/45.0 club.
- He ran a 43.34 4x400m relay split.
- He won the NCAA outdoor 800m title.
- He won the Athletics Kenyan Trials 800m title in 1:43.86.
- He ran a 1:43.10 800m in Monaco.

As the 800m world leader heading into London two weeks ago, Korir didn't live up to his billing as he failed to advance to his first global championship final, but he did have to endure a much longer season than many of his competitors. Keep an eye on him as he begins to train solely for the professional circuit.