Albert Caruana Gambileg Bor, right, goes by 2006 CCS and State Division III champ Mohamed Abdalla of Willow Glen on his way to winning the 2007 CCS title.

Born and raised in Mongolia, Bor immigrated to America two and a half years ago. He only knew a couple of family members, had to fine-tune his English and adjust to a whole new environment. Since arriving in the states, Bor found his passion — running — while also excelling in school (he carries a 4.0 GPA).

The Daily Journal’s Boys’ Cross-Country Athlete of the Year for a second straight season, Bor won two Peninsula Athletic League and one Central Coast Section championship in two years. Bor went out with a bang, dominating the PAL Meet before shocking 2006 Division III state champion Mohamed Abdalla of Willow Glen in the CCS Meet.

Both races were at the 2.95-mile Crystal Springs Course in Belmont, the scene of Bor’s many triumphs. Bor won the CCS Division III race in 14 minutes, 56 seconds, shattering his personal-record by 19 seconds. He dusted Abdalla by 12 seconds in what was the race of the CCS Meet — boys or girls. Nine days earlier, Bor ran away from the field in the PAL Meet, finishing 28 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Brad Surh of Carlmont.

Bor went on to place sixth at the state meet, which was actually a disappointment. Even though he improved on his seventh-place showing from a year ago, Bor simply didn’t have his best stuff in Fresno.

“I should’ve done better,” he said. “I didn’t feel special, like I did in CCS. I really don’t know what was wrong. I didn’t feel energized.”

Bor’s disappointing run at state didn’t last long. One week later, he placed a solid 28th at the Foot Locker Western Regional, up 15 spots from a year ago.

“I showed improvement, and that was really important to me,” he said. “I didn’t run well at state but I think I had a good season.”

No kidding. Bor is receiving plenty of attention from Division I schools. Athletes who display plenty of potential are often referred to as having a lot of upside, and that fits Bor to a T. Bor has already accomplished so much, but he’s only been running competitively for two and a half years. A natural runner, Bor combines big-time talent with a undying work ethic.

He knows he’s only tapped part of his immense potential. Bor’s brother, Batbileg, had a nice career as a runner at San Francisco State and is actually faster than Gambileg.

“I’m confident with more years of experience I will catch up to him and be faster,” Gambileg said.

When Bor burst onto the scene last year, he had little competitive running experience. Instead of running like a novice, Bor proved to be one of the section’s best. It was only the beginning of Bor’s remarkable ascent, one that seemingly has no limits.

“My life has changed in so many ways,” he said. “Life back in Mongolia was good. But ever since I came here it’s been great. I’ve tried my best and pushed myself to the limit. I wasn’t like that in Mongolia. Here I’ve discovered who I am.”

A funny thing happened after Bor won his first PAL and CCS titles. He was genuinely shocked.

“It is unbelievable. I can’t believe it. I’m shocked!” Bor said after winning the CCS championship. “I didn’t know I could run that fast. I wasn’t feeling tired at the end. I was just happy. Wow.”

Wow is the perfect word to describe Bor’s burgeoning career. Technically sound, Bor has a unique way to gauge his competition — he listens to their breathing. When he passed Abdalla on the first attack in the CCS Meet, he could hear every gasp.

“I listened to his breathing so carefully,” Bor said. “It was the very first test (of the race). I knew I could bring him down.”

Bor realized he was fast and strong over long distances from the moment he got here. As a sophomore during his P.E. classes, teachers instructed the students to run a couple of laps around the track. While most of the kids ran one to four laps, Bor would run 18 to 20 just for the heck of it. Bor didn’t it know it then, but growing up in Ulan-Bator — Mongolia’s capitol city — prepared him to be the runner that he is today.

At 4,363 feet, Ulan-Bator is nearly a mile above sea level. Top-level endurance athletes routinely train at high altitudes to increase their oxygen-rich red blood cell count. Loosely translated, Gambileg means “The Brave One,” in Mongolian. It’s a perfect description for Bor, a fearless runner with a champion’s heart.