Emmanuel Korir Has Big Goals in the 800 Meters

By Adam Kopet

Emmanuel Korir is the fastest man in the world this year over 800 meters, having run 1:42.05 at the London Diamond League meeting. Now he has his eyes set on taking a shot at the world record, according to Timothy Olobulu for Capital Sports.

Korir, 23, has big goals for himself in the sport after an up-and-down 2017 season. He has three planned races remaining on his schedule: the Birmingham Diamond League meeting, the Brussels Diamond League final and the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

If the conditions are right, Korir wants to take a shot at the world record. David Rudisha ran 1:40.91 in the 2012 Olympic final. Korir is still more than a second away, but he believes he can break the record.

However, Korir is also already thinking about 2019. He feels the need to make up for his performance at the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, where he finished fourth in his semifinal heat and did not advance to the final. That means 2019 will not just be about running fast, but having the strength and tactics to compete well in the IAAF World Outdoor Championships, scheduled for Sept. 27-Oct. 6 in Doha, Qatar.