UTEP track and field star Emmanuel Korir decided to forgo his remaining three years of collegiate eligibility and run professionally after signing a contract with Nike.

“Emmanuel started running well at the start of the indoor season, that’s when talks of turning pro came up,” said track head coach Paul Ereng in a press release. “He’s ranked number one in the world in the 800-meter and top 10 in the 400-meter so he has the tools to become another household name for Kenya.”

Korir had a dominant freshman year as he debuted for the Miners claiming gold in the 800-meter race with a 1:46.50 time at the Vanderbilt Commodore Invitational. He set a world record in the 600-meter with a time of 1:14.97 at the New Mexico Cherry and Silver. He was also the first UTEP athlete to win a NCAA indoor title in the 800-meter as he won with a time of 1:47.48.

In the outdoor season for the Miners, Korir broke the program record in the 400-meter race at the UTEP Invitational with a 44.67 time. He won his second national title in the 800-meter race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

This summer he captured gold at the Kenyan trials, which secured his spot on the Kenya national team, and he will participate in the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) World Championships.

Korir will train in El Paso with Ereng and plans to finish school at UTEP.

“The decision for him to turn pro not only benefits him, but also the program,”Ereng said. “We want the best for our athletes and if we can help them achieve the goals they want and help further their education, we will do everything we can to help them.”