2017-18 Track and Field Roster
Riba, Alex
Alex Riba
- Weight:
- null
- Position:
- Distance
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- O'Fallon, Illinois
- High School:
- O'Fallon Township
Bio
Career Bests:
1500m: 3:44.14, No. 4 performance, No. 5 performance on Aggie all-time list
Mile (indoor): 4:03.29, No. 5 performer, No. 6 performance on Aggie all-time list
5000m: 13:59.06, No. 6 performance on Aggie all-time list
Cross Country (2017) – Led team in first four meets of the season in which Texas A&M claimed team titles at Aggie Opener, Bulldog SEC Preview and Texas A&M Invitational … Riba won the Opener at 6k, placed fifth in the SEC Preview at 8k and finished as runner-up in the A&M Invitational (8k) … Second Aggie finisher in Alabama Crimson Classic, placing 13th … Missed SEC Championship race due to food poisoning the night before the race … Placed 24th in NCAA South Central region, running 30:52.8 on 10,000m course, finished third among Aggie squad and earned All-Region honors.
2017: Advanced to the semifinals of the 1,500m at the NCAA Championships, placing 14th in 3:44.14 … That performance has Riba ranked as No. 4 performer with No. 5 performance on Aggie all-time list … Finished seventh (3:55.05) in the SEC Championships, after producing a time of 3:46.36 that was fourth best time in prelims … Turned in a time of 13:59.06 at Mt. SAC Relays, moving to No. 6 performer on Aggie all-time list … Member of distance medley relay that finished second at Texas Relays (9:46.73), anchoring in 4:10.58 … Finished third in mile at Sun Angel Classic, clocking a 4:05.79, and was runner-up at Jim Bush Collegiate Inv. in 1,500m (3:47.99).
Indoors – Placed ninth in mile (4:08.17) at SEC Championships … Also ran on sixth-place distance medley relay in SEC meet … Won the mile at Clemson in 4:11.26 and produced a best of 4:06.18 as runner-up in Aggie Twilight … Cross Country (2016) – Limited to one race during season, competing in NCAA South Central region meet, placing 43rd in the 10,000m race with a time of 31:49.0.
2016: Opened season with a 4:08.17 runner-up effort in mile at Reveille Invitational in December 2015 … Over course of five races in mile during indoor campaign, improved to 4:03.29 for sixth place in SEC final … That time has Riba ranked as No. 5 performer with No. 6 performance on Aggie all-time list … Ran on winning distance medley relay (9:48.31) at Tyson Invitational, splitting 4:08.82 on anchor … Finished sixth in distance medley relay at SEC Championships, supplying a 4:08.79 anchor split … Outdoors, placed 13th in 5,000m (14:29.97) in SEC Championships while clocking 3:48.91 in prelims of 1,500m to place 17th … Qualified for NCAA West preliminary rounds in 1,500m … Ran on winning distance medley relay at Texas Relays (9:51.79), anchoring in 4:13.8 … Won 1,500m (3:48.98) at UCLA Dual meet and then improved to 3:45.78 as runner-up in LSU Invitational.
Cross Country (2015) – Placed 13th in SEC Championships and finished 24th in NCAA South Central region meet … No. 2 runner for Aggies in conference meet as Texas A&M produced a runner-up team finish … In region meet, finished fourth among Aggies as team placed third … Competed in six races.
2015: Returned to action by winning mile in 4:14.65 at Texas A&M Team Invitational, a year and eight days since his last competition … Raced in the mile six times during the indoor season, capped with a 13th place at SEC Championships in 4:10.27 … Also ran on distance medley relay during runner-up finish at Texas A&M Aggie Invitational (9:53.80) and Tyson Invitational (9:51.51), providing splits of 4:07.12 and a lead-off 3:01.55 in the 1,200m at Arkansas … Riba’s 4:07.12 challenged UTEP’s Anthony Rotich (4:07.04) in the Aggie Invitational as UTEP won the race in 9:49.42 … Outdoors, competed in 800m twice while contesting 1,500m four times … Produced season best times of 1:53.55 and 3:48.66 … Cross Country (2014) – did not compete, recovering from injury.
2014: Competed in two meet and then was injured, did not compete during rest of track and field season … Competed in distance medley relay that won in 10:01.33 at Texas A&M Team Invitational, splitting 4:16.07 over the 1,600m anchor leg … Won mile in 4:08.07 at Texas A&M Triangular … Cross Country (2013) – Debut race for Aggies came in Greater Louisville Classic, running 27:44.76 over 8,000m course in Louisville, Kentucky … Ran 15:31 for 5,000m at Houston Baptist Invitational, placing sixth overall as the second A&M runner on winning team effort.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2013 graduate of O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois … Lettered four years in track and field as well as cross country, coached by John Barnett … Set school records in 1,600 (4:10.11), 3,200 (8:54.37) and 4x800 relay (7:49.05) … Member of O’Fallon cross country team that placed second in Illinois State 3A meet in 2011 and 2012, as well as fifth in 2010 … O’Fallon cross country won four consecutive regional team titles and four consecutive sectional championships with Riba as a member from 2009-2012 … Named St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Runner of the Year in cross country … Individually, in Riba’s senior season he won the Edwardsville Regional over 5,000m (15:40.0), placed second in the Normal Community Sectional over 3 miles (14:36.0) and finished fourth at State (14:15.0) … Won the 2012 Nike Midwest Regional over 5,000m (15:30.10), bettering a field of nationally ranked runners … During senior track season in 2013, finished as State 3A runner-up in 3,200m (8:59.37) and 11th in 1,600m (4:27.15) … Recorded a 3,000m time of 8:36.0 en route to a 9:17.39 in the 2 mile for 14th place at New Balance Outdoor Nationals, where he also placed 16th in mile (4:18.96) … Also had a season best in 2013 of 1:52.43 (800m), 3:56.67 (1500m en route) and 4:12.54 (mile) … As a junior in cross country (2011), finished as runner-up in Regional (16:01.0), Sectional (15:00.0) and State 3A (14:27.0) meets … The second place performance in the State meet was the best finish by an O’Fallon runner in school history … On the track as a junior in 2012, posted best marks of 1:55.02 (800m), 3:59.70 (1,500m), 4:14.39 (1,600m), 4:18.70 (Mile), 9:21.75 (3,200m).
PERSONAL: Alexander Nicholas Riba, son of Bryan and Kim Riba, was born in Merced, California on April 20, 1994 … Father was a swimmer at Air Force Academy … Has one brother, Austin … Started competing in track and field in seventh grade … Member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and FCA, where he served as president … Helped establish the Gold Rush Club, a school spirit organization … Decision to attend A&M came from love of campus, the atmosphere, team and education, noting “it just felt like a good fit.” … Community service and extracurricular activities include St. Louis Fellowship of Christian Athletes, First Baptist Church in O’Fallon, Jim Ryun running camp, College Station FCA, Grace Bible Church, startup Aggieland business incubator and accelerator … Majoring in Business Management and Masters of Real Estate.
TIDBITS: Career goal is to not sell myself short … Chose track and field because of peer pressure.
Something most people don't know about me: Not much, My life is really simple and open. My faith in Jesus is the most integral part of my life and I strive every day that it will have an impact in all facets of my life; in family, work, school, running and beyond. With the goal of knowing him and to make him known.
Top three things on my bucket list: Run as far as I can in a day, Live overseas for a period, Read all the books people have recommended to me.
Hobbies or activities: Reading, Hiking, Exploring, Shooting.
Favorite quote from a coach: “Don’t let the day get away” - Coach Henry
Favorite Pro Track & Field Athlete: Bernard Lagat
Favorite Pro Sports Team: St Louis Cardinals
Favorite Non-T&F Pro Athlete: Kurt Warner
Favorite city I have visited: Prague, Czech Republic
City I most want to visit: Jerusalem, Israel
Favorite Track & Field venue: Texas A&M Indoor Facility
Track & Field venue I want to visit: The Bird’s Nest, Beijing
My spirit animal is: Golden Retriever
Most-used app on my phone: Minesweeper
Favorite social media app: Instagram
Favorite meal or restaurant: Grits and Eggs with Bacon
Reality show I could be on: The Amazing Race
Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings
Favorite TV Show: Psych
Favorite Actor/Actress: Chuck Norris
Favorite Pre-Meet Warm-Up Song/Artist: Devastation and Reform- Relient K
Favorite Song: You Love me anyway - Sidewalk Prophets
Favorite Musical Artist of All-Time: Relient K
Favorite Book: The Bible
1500m: 3:44.14, No. 4 performance, No. 5 performance on Aggie all-time list
Mile (indoor): 4:03.29, No. 5 performer, No. 6 performance on Aggie all-time list
5000m: 13:59.06, No. 6 performance on Aggie all-time list
Cross Country (2017) – Led team in first four meets of the season in which Texas A&M claimed team titles at Aggie Opener, Bulldog SEC Preview and Texas A&M Invitational … Riba won the Opener at 6k, placed fifth in the SEC Preview at 8k and finished as runner-up in the A&M Invitational (8k) … Second Aggie finisher in Alabama Crimson Classic, placing 13th … Missed SEC Championship race due to food poisoning the night before the race … Placed 24th in NCAA South Central region, running 30:52.8 on 10,000m course, finished third among Aggie squad and earned All-Region honors.
2017: Advanced to the semifinals of the 1,500m at the NCAA Championships, placing 14th in 3:44.14 … That performance has Riba ranked as No. 4 performer with No. 5 performance on Aggie all-time list … Finished seventh (3:55.05) in the SEC Championships, after producing a time of 3:46.36 that was fourth best time in prelims … Turned in a time of 13:59.06 at Mt. SAC Relays, moving to No. 6 performer on Aggie all-time list … Member of distance medley relay that finished second at Texas Relays (9:46.73), anchoring in 4:10.58 … Finished third in mile at Sun Angel Classic, clocking a 4:05.79, and was runner-up at Jim Bush Collegiate Inv. in 1,500m (3:47.99).
Indoors – Placed ninth in mile (4:08.17) at SEC Championships … Also ran on sixth-place distance medley relay in SEC meet … Won the mile at Clemson in 4:11.26 and produced a best of 4:06.18 as runner-up in Aggie Twilight … Cross Country (2016) – Limited to one race during season, competing in NCAA South Central region meet, placing 43rd in the 10,000m race with a time of 31:49.0.
2016: Opened season with a 4:08.17 runner-up effort in mile at Reveille Invitational in December 2015 … Over course of five races in mile during indoor campaign, improved to 4:03.29 for sixth place in SEC final … That time has Riba ranked as No. 5 performer with No. 6 performance on Aggie all-time list … Ran on winning distance medley relay (9:48.31) at Tyson Invitational, splitting 4:08.82 on anchor … Finished sixth in distance medley relay at SEC Championships, supplying a 4:08.79 anchor split … Outdoors, placed 13th in 5,000m (14:29.97) in SEC Championships while clocking 3:48.91 in prelims of 1,500m to place 17th … Qualified for NCAA West preliminary rounds in 1,500m … Ran on winning distance medley relay at Texas Relays (9:51.79), anchoring in 4:13.8 … Won 1,500m (3:48.98) at UCLA Dual meet and then improved to 3:45.78 as runner-up in LSU Invitational.
Cross Country (2015) – Placed 13th in SEC Championships and finished 24th in NCAA South Central region meet … No. 2 runner for Aggies in conference meet as Texas A&M produced a runner-up team finish … In region meet, finished fourth among Aggies as team placed third … Competed in six races.
2015: Returned to action by winning mile in 4:14.65 at Texas A&M Team Invitational, a year and eight days since his last competition … Raced in the mile six times during the indoor season, capped with a 13th place at SEC Championships in 4:10.27 … Also ran on distance medley relay during runner-up finish at Texas A&M Aggie Invitational (9:53.80) and Tyson Invitational (9:51.51), providing splits of 4:07.12 and a lead-off 3:01.55 in the 1,200m at Arkansas … Riba’s 4:07.12 challenged UTEP’s Anthony Rotich (4:07.04) in the Aggie Invitational as UTEP won the race in 9:49.42 … Outdoors, competed in 800m twice while contesting 1,500m four times … Produced season best times of 1:53.55 and 3:48.66 … Cross Country (2014) – did not compete, recovering from injury.
2014: Competed in two meet and then was injured, did not compete during rest of track and field season … Competed in distance medley relay that won in 10:01.33 at Texas A&M Team Invitational, splitting 4:16.07 over the 1,600m anchor leg … Won mile in 4:08.07 at Texas A&M Triangular … Cross Country (2013) – Debut race for Aggies came in Greater Louisville Classic, running 27:44.76 over 8,000m course in Louisville, Kentucky … Ran 15:31 for 5,000m at Houston Baptist Invitational, placing sixth overall as the second A&M runner on winning team effort.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2013 graduate of O’Fallon Township High School in O’Fallon, Illinois … Lettered four years in track and field as well as cross country, coached by John Barnett … Set school records in 1,600 (4:10.11), 3,200 (8:54.37) and 4x800 relay (7:49.05) … Member of O’Fallon cross country team that placed second in Illinois State 3A meet in 2011 and 2012, as well as fifth in 2010 … O’Fallon cross country won four consecutive regional team titles and four consecutive sectional championships with Riba as a member from 2009-2012 … Named St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Runner of the Year in cross country … Individually, in Riba’s senior season he won the Edwardsville Regional over 5,000m (15:40.0), placed second in the Normal Community Sectional over 3 miles (14:36.0) and finished fourth at State (14:15.0) … Won the 2012 Nike Midwest Regional over 5,000m (15:30.10), bettering a field of nationally ranked runners … During senior track season in 2013, finished as State 3A runner-up in 3,200m (8:59.37) and 11th in 1,600m (4:27.15) … Recorded a 3,000m time of 8:36.0 en route to a 9:17.39 in the 2 mile for 14th place at New Balance Outdoor Nationals, where he also placed 16th in mile (4:18.96) … Also had a season best in 2013 of 1:52.43 (800m), 3:56.67 (1500m en route) and 4:12.54 (mile) … As a junior in cross country (2011), finished as runner-up in Regional (16:01.0), Sectional (15:00.0) and State 3A (14:27.0) meets … The second place performance in the State meet was the best finish by an O’Fallon runner in school history … On the track as a junior in 2012, posted best marks of 1:55.02 (800m), 3:59.70 (1,500m), 4:14.39 (1,600m), 4:18.70 (Mile), 9:21.75 (3,200m).
PERSONAL: Alexander Nicholas Riba, son of Bryan and Kim Riba, was born in Merced, California on April 20, 1994 … Father was a swimmer at Air Force Academy … Has one brother, Austin … Started competing in track and field in seventh grade … Member of National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, and FCA, where he served as president … Helped establish the Gold Rush Club, a school spirit organization … Decision to attend A&M came from love of campus, the atmosphere, team and education, noting “it just felt like a good fit.” … Community service and extracurricular activities include St. Louis Fellowship of Christian Athletes, First Baptist Church in O’Fallon, Jim Ryun running camp, College Station FCA, Grace Bible Church, startup Aggieland business incubator and accelerator … Majoring in Business Management and Masters of Real Estate.
TIDBITS: Career goal is to not sell myself short … Chose track and field because of peer pressure.
Something most people don't know about me: Not much, My life is really simple and open. My faith in Jesus is the most integral part of my life and I strive every day that it will have an impact in all facets of my life; in family, work, school, running and beyond. With the goal of knowing him and to make him known.
Top three things on my bucket list: Run as far as I can in a day, Live overseas for a period, Read all the books people have recommended to me.
Hobbies or activities: Reading, Hiking, Exploring, Shooting.
Favorite quote from a coach: “Don’t let the day get away” - Coach Henry
Favorite Pro Track & Field Athlete: Bernard Lagat
Favorite Pro Sports Team: St Louis Cardinals
Favorite Non-T&F Pro Athlete: Kurt Warner
Favorite city I have visited: Prague, Czech Republic
City I most want to visit: Jerusalem, Israel
Favorite Track & Field venue: Texas A&M Indoor Facility
Track & Field venue I want to visit: The Bird’s Nest, Beijing
My spirit animal is: Golden Retriever
Most-used app on my phone: Minesweeper
Favorite social media app: Instagram
Favorite meal or restaurant: Grits and Eggs with Bacon
Reality show I could be on: The Amazing Race
Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings
Favorite TV Show: Psych
Favorite Actor/Actress: Chuck Norris
Favorite Pre-Meet Warm-Up Song/Artist: Devastation and Reform- Relient K
Favorite Song: You Love me anyway - Sidewalk Prophets
Favorite Musical Artist of All-Time: Relient K
Favorite Book: The Bible
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