Before Lee Emanuel transferred to UNM, everything he knew about Albuquerque came from Internet research and word of mouth.
Since moving from England to New Mexico, the junior distance runner said he quickly grew a fondness for his sport's culture and the people in the state.
"The people out here are fantastic, so that's not been a problem at all," he said. "The only problem I had at first was just getting used to running in the altitude. Lifestyle-wise, I've settled in since I got here. All the people have made me feel very welcome."
Emanuel transferred to UNM last fall after being recruited by first-year head coach Joe Franklin. He said the only part of the United States he visited before committing to the Lobos was Florida.
But after hearing about the advantages New Mexico provided for runners, making the move was an easy decision, he said.
And the junior has made a splash early in his UNM career.
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Emanuel broke the school's 24-year old record in the mile Feb. 9, clocking a time of 4:02.47 at Notre Dame's Meyo Invitational. He shaved 1.73 seconds off the record in his second race for UNM's track squad.
What's impressive about Emanuel's record is that he's not in top form yet, Franklin said.
He said Emanuel has the potential to put up even more staggering numbers.
"Lee's very, very talented. And once he's got a year of training, there's no telling what he could do," he said. "It's real special to break a record that's 24 years old at a university with such a storied track and field tradition."
Emanuel said hitting that mark is something he has had is eye on for awhile. While competing in England, he hit a time of 3:44.83 in the 1,500-meter run, which is about 100 meters short of a mile.
Once he found out how talented the runners would be at the Meyo Invitational, he knew he had a good shot at the school record, he said.
"I'm obviously very happy to break the school record," Emanuel said. "That was one of my main aims for the race on Saturday. I knew it was going to be a good standard from what Joe was telling me about all the people in the race."
Emanuel's mile time was good enough to earn him a provisional qualifying mark to the NCAA Championships. In order to hit an automatic qualifying mark, Emanuel said he would likely have to shave a second or two off his time.
And while breaking the four-minute barrier is a big goal for any miler, Emanuel said he is more focused on earning an automatic berth to the NCAA's.
Emanuel said running a sub-four-minute mile and hitting an automatic NCAA mark are realistic goals for this year.
Training in New Mexico could be a big asset, he said.
"To be a runner in New Mexico - it's a fantastic place," he said. "You've got the altitude, the weather. They have great facilities here as well and a great team to run with."
While focusing on his own individual goals, Emanuel has also studied the running history and culture in New Mexico. He said he has befriended UNM All-Americans such as Jeremy Johnson and Matt Gonzales, who have helped motivate him even further.
He has grown to appreciate Albuquerque, and his teammates and coaches immediately made him feel part of the team, he said.
Franklin said Emanuel has the kind of personality that fits in well with the rest of the Lobos.
"When you have somebody that works hard and has high goals and they're humble, they're easily accepted, and Lee does that," he said. "What's nice is Lee's doing well in school, enjoying life, adapting to Albuquerque. And even though he's from England, he's a New Mexican."
