1. Leonard Essau Korir was born on December 10,1986 and is an American long-distance runner who competes over distances from 5000 meters to the marathon.
13 Facts About Leonard Korir
1. 2.
Leonard Korir is a two-time NCAA champion, winning an indoor 5000 m title and outdoor 10,000 meters title in 2011 for the Iona Gaels.
3.
Leonard Korir gained United States citizenship and began competing for his adoptive nation in 2016.
4.
Leonard Korir opted to study political science at Iona College, an institution he recognised as a fellow Kenyan, Richard Kiplagat, had attended there.
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Leonard Korir's improvement was marked in his second year there: he won the MAAC Cross Country title, then took fourth at the NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship after winning the regional title.
6.
Leonard Korir won his second collegiate title at the NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships that year, topping the field over 10,000 m as well as coming third in the 5000 m Leonard Korir was runner-up at the 2011 NCAA Cross Country Championships behind another Kenyan, Lawi Lalang.
7.
Leonard Korir was runner-up at the Healthy Kidney 10K in 2012 and made his half marathon debut with 61:19 minutes for fourth at the 2013 New York City Half Marathon.
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Leonard Korir won the Bix 7 Road Race that same year, but was down the order at the Delhi Half Marathon in ninth.
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Leonard Korir regularly ran in lower-level American road races, with highlights including third at the 2014 Boston Half Marathon.
10.
Leonard Korir was third at the BAA 10K and won the Bix 7 Road Race for the second time.
11.
Leonard Korir moved back to the track in the 2016 season, achieving a win at the Stanford Invitational with a time of 27:58.65 minutes.
12.
In September 2015, Leonard Korir joined the US Army as a driver.
13.
Leonard Korir gained eligibility to represent the United States in May 2016.