CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Broke school record in weight throw as a freshman in 2021

FRESHMAN (2021) - Outdoor: Ninth in hammer at SEC Championships with a throw of 213-11 (65.20)

• Set a then career best of 211-2 (64.37) in collegiate debut as runner-up in Oregon’s Heyward Premiere
• Improved to 216-4 (65.94) in placing third at Florida’s Tom Jones Memorial
• In finishing fourth at John McDonnell Invitational, moved career best to 219-4 (66.85), which ranks No. 2 on UA all-time list
• Qualified for NCAA West Preliminary round, placed 28th with a toss of 198-5 (60.48)
• Competing in UK Championships, finished 12th. - Indoor: Placed fourth in weight throw at SEC Championships with mark of 71-0 3/4 (21.66)
• Broke Arkansas school record in second competition as a Razorback, reaching a distance of 71-4 1/4 (21.75) to win Wooo Pig Classic
• Bettered previous UA record mark of 69-6 (21.18) set by Erich Sullins in 2019
• In collegiate debut, placed fourth at Arkansas Invitational with a 60-1 (18.31) effort
• Won Razorback Invitational (69-9 1/2 21.27), finished third at Tyson Invitational (70-1 1/2 21.37)
• Qualified for NCAA Championships, placed 15th (64-10 1/2 19.77).

HIGH SCHOOL

• 2020 graduate of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida
• Coached by Kibwe Johnson, 2012 Olympic finalist in hammer
• Also competes in rugby and polo … Produced school records in hammer and weight throw with marks of 207-9 (63.33) and 76-8 1/2 (23.38)
• For 2020 indoor season, ranked fifth in nation among U.S. preps in weight throw with 76-8 1/2
• Ranked 12th in hammer among U.S. high school throwers in 2019 and was fourth best in junior class with his 207-9
• Won shot put and placed third in discus at 2019 Golden South Classic
• During 2019 indoor season had a season best of 70-3 3/4 (21.43) in weight throw
• In 2018, season best marks were 199-5 (60.80) in hammer, which ranked him fifth among U17 age group in England, and 59-7 1/2 (18.17) in weight

• Competed with track club Windsor Eaton Slough & Hounslow in Eton, Berkshire

• Best marks: 76-8 1/2 23.38 (Weight), 207-9 63.33 (Hammer), 55-9 16.99 (SP), 161-0 49.09 (DT)

PERSONAL

• Ruben Earl Banks was born November 17, 2001 in London, England
• Hometown is Binfield, England
• Son of Moirah van Niekirk
• Has four siblings, Chloe, Robert, Ryan, and Aaliyah
• Brother Robert plays basketball and competed for England
• Majoring in Business
• Ambition is to be great at whatever he does
• Favorite athletes are Kibwe Johnson and Sergey Litvinov, a three-time finalist in hammer at IAAF World Championships
• Person he most admires is his mother
• Can play the tuba