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 … Chose Arkansas because it’s a great opportunity with great coaches and a great history.
