Emmanuel Bor Quickly Earning Legend Status
10/15/2008 12:00:00 AM
Oct. 15, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - It's hard to ask for much more success in your first two years than junior Emmanuel Bor has achieved in the Southeastern Conference. The Eldoret, Kenya won the first two cross country meets of his career before being earning All-SEC and All-South Region as a freshman. In his first track season, Bor won the SEC title in the indoor mile, clocking a time of 4:01.74, while finishing second in the 3,000 meter race. He was the only freshman in the finals of the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships, where he just missed All-America honors (top 8), finishing ninth.
As a sophomore, Bor was named the SEC Male Athlete of the Year for his efforts during the cross country season where he was the SEC champion. He was the first Alabama athlete to win the SEC championship individually since the late David Kimani did so in 2002.
"Being a SEC champion is nice," Bor said. "It prepares you for the future and its keeps you wanting more. In the end, it makes you want to run faster."
Bor and Kimani are also the only Alabama athletes to be named SEC Male Athlete of the Year. Bor has been named SEC Athlete of the Week four times in his career at Alabama - the most any athlete at Alabama has ever achieved.
"It's nice to have the same honors as the late David Kimani," Bor said. "I used to hear about Kimani and I knew he would have run faster. He ran great times during his life and I respect him a lot. He inspired me a lot as well. It's with this program that led him to be successful. I believe in the same program and the sky is the limit."
Bor and the Tide have high expectations for themselves this year for the SEC, regional and NCAA Championships. They feel they should have been hoisting the SEC Championship trophy last season and are determined to prove they are the best this year. They are, however, the defending South Region champions and expect to be in the same position this year if everybody can stay healthy. In 2007, Alabama placed sixth at the NCAA Championships, which is the best finish in school history, and the squad returns every student-athlete from that team.
"Our team goal for this season is to win the SEC, regional and NCAA Cross Country Championships," Bor said. "To reach that goal we need to stay focused and train hard."
Bor, as an individual athlete, wants to run professionally after his college career is over. Success in the sport of running is in his blood with brothers Julius and Hillary Bor.
"I would like to run even faster and eventually be a professional athlete," Bor said. "I would love to be selected to compete in the Golden League, Grand Prix and the Olympics. I would also love to meet my brothers, Julius and Hillary Bor, in one race, particularly in the mile."
Bor and the Crimson Tide will attempt to snap Arkansas' 17-year streak as SEC champions on Nov. 3 in Starkville, Miss. before they looking to repeat as South Region champions on Nov. 15 at the University of Tennessee. Lastly, Alabama will attempt to bring home the university's first NCAA Championship in cross country on Nov. 24 in Terre Haute, Ind.
