Riley Coates

Class: Senior Hometown: Rapid City, S.D. High School: Stevens

Height: 5-8 Event: 5000m | 10000m

JUNIOR YEAR | 2013-14: Earned the program's Bret Hyde Award for Drive and Determination...scored for the Falcons in three events at the Mountain West Championships...placed fifth indoors and sixth outdoors in the 5000-meter run...also earned a seventh-place finish in the 10,000-meter run...ranked second on the team in the 3000-meter run during the indoor season...clocked a career-best time of 8:24.90 (adjusted for altitude) at the New Mexico Invitational...posted a personal-best time of 14:28.88 in the 5000-meter run at the Iowa State Classic...also competed in the mile twice, recording a career-best 4:15.29a at the Air Force Team Challenge...ran four different events during the outdoor season...ranked second on the team in the 10,000-meter run following a career-best time of 30:01.84 at the Mt. SAC Relays...posted a personal-best 5000-meter time of 14:15.09a at the conference meet...competed in the 1500-meter (3:55.57) and 3000-meter (8:35.76) at the Baldy Castillo Invitational.

SOPHOMORE YEAR | 2012-13: Competed in four outdoor meets...clocked a team-leading, career-best time of 9:26.97 to finish second in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Arizona State Invitational...received "Standout" distinction from the team following that meet...also competed in the 1500-meter run during two meets...clocked a personal-best time of 3:57.53 (adjusted for altitude) to finish fifth at the Air Force Triangular...did not compete during the indoor season.

FRESHMAN YEAR | 2011-12: Competed in six different events during the outdoor season...won the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Front Range Classic (9:40.55, adjusted for altitude)...also competed in the 2000-meter steeplechase (6:33.14) at the Air Force Relays...was the runner-up in the 5000-meter run at the Jack Christiansen Invitational...clocked a time of 15:21.75a at that meet...competed in both the 800-meter run (2:00.36a) and the 1500-meter run (4:01.08a) at the Colorado Invitational...participated in the mile race during two indoor meets...clocked a career-best 4:22.35a to finish sixth at the Air Force Invitational...ran the 3000-meter run in 8:49.34a at the Air Force Team Challenge...recorded a 5000-meter time of 15:12.05a at the New Mexico Classic...academic all-conference selection.

HIGH SCHOOL: Stevens High School...three-time all-state selection in cross country...also earned three All-Greater Dakota Conference selections...earned one All-Greater Dakota Conference selection in track...school record holder in the 800-meter run (1:55.1)...also a member of the 4x800-meter relay team that holds the school record at 7:52.85...member of the National Honor Society.

PERSONAL: Son of Kip and Mary Coates...nickname is "Goat"...has a twin brother, Casey...also has one older brother, Kelly...majoring in biology...future plans include running in the Air Force World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and then working in the intelligence field or as a personnel officer...post-Air Force career includes becoming Benny 'The Jet' Rodriguez...named to the Athletic Director's List...taught patrol during the summer as a part of Expeditionary Survival and Evasion Training (ESET)...also "worked the intellectually stimulating job of sitting in the Command Center, beat the legendary Michael Kelly in wiffle ball and hiked the majestic Harney Peak"...hobbies include baseball, basketball, reading, movies, yoga, flying, fighting and winning...president of the Violah Lagat Fan Club...earned all-conference honors in cross country twice (2012 second-team, 2014 first-team)...all-region selection in 2014...finished 77th at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships...member of Cadet Squadron 31.