Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Michael Wade/Wade Event Photography
MSU's Ribeiro Enters OVC Indoors Looking For Pentathlon Title
2/25/2020 9:04:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
From Brazil, to Massachusetts, to Murray, Kentucky, Jessikha Ribeiro is an American success story. She's also one of the reasons the Murray State Track & Field program has been on the rise in the last two years. The Racers compete this week in Birmingham, Alabama at the 2020 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships.
In her short time with the Racers, Ribeiro, has proven to be a talented multi-event athlete and she helped the Racers win the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championship last spring, the first for the program since 1992. As the Racers travel to Birmingham, Alabama, they are one of the teams that could win it all.
Ribeiro posted the top Pentathlon score of 3,454 this indoor season (Jan. 16) at the Samford Invitational.
Part of her edge is being a student of the game.
"There are websites that track every multi-sport athlete all over the world." Ribeiro told the Runnin' with the Racers Podcast. "I like knowing where I am ranked and looking at what I can do to improve in the events. I want to go as far as I can with this, so I think it's important to gather as much knowledge as I can."
Riebeiro was part of Murray State history last spring the OVC Outdoors when she teamed with Aubrey Main and Ashlyn Oren to be the first 1-2-3 finish in the Heptathlon as all three set personal records in point totals.
"It was something that had never been done before, so I was a little emotional when we did it," Ribeiro said. "It was a moment that we will never forget."
When she was five, her father, Adilson, was already in the USA working in Chicopee, Mass., when the entire family made a move that changed their life for the better. Jessikha and sister, Ayandra, packed up and went to the USA with mother, Vanilza to meet up with Dad.
"I was born in Itabirinha, Brazil, which is a super-small farming town," Ribeiro said. "My earliest childhood memories are of running around barefoot, chasing my sister and my cousins and doing farm work. My dad had been in the states working and we saved up enough money that we came to the United States for a better life. I think the way I am now as an athlete, is from the way my mom and dad worked."
It is amazing to see Ribeiro's level of talent and consider she didn't participate in organized athletics until she was a freshman at Chicopee Comprehensive High School. She had natural talent for multiple events in track and field and she played soccer and was captain of the team in her senior season.
"Being here at Murray State has shown me what family is all about and what tradition is all about," she said. "To have teammates that push you and move toward a common goal is great."
Ribeiro is on track to graduate from Murray State in December with a degree in business administration and plans to pursue her MBA.
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In her short time with the Racers, Ribeiro, has proven to be a talented multi-event athlete and she helped the Racers win the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Championship last spring, the first for the program since 1992. As the Racers travel to Birmingham, Alabama, they are one of the teams that could win it all.
Ribeiro posted the top Pentathlon score of 3,454 this indoor season (Jan. 16) at the Samford Invitational.
Part of her edge is being a student of the game.
"There are websites that track every multi-sport athlete all over the world." Ribeiro told the Runnin' with the Racers Podcast. "I like knowing where I am ranked and looking at what I can do to improve in the events. I want to go as far as I can with this, so I think it's important to gather as much knowledge as I can."
Riebeiro was part of Murray State history last spring the OVC Outdoors when she teamed with Aubrey Main and Ashlyn Oren to be the first 1-2-3 finish in the Heptathlon as all three set personal records in point totals.
"It was something that had never been done before, so I was a little emotional when we did it," Ribeiro said. "It was a moment that we will never forget."
When she was five, her father, Adilson, was already in the USA working in Chicopee, Mass., when the entire family made a move that changed their life for the better. Jessikha and sister, Ayandra, packed up and went to the USA with mother, Vanilza to meet up with Dad.
"I was born in Itabirinha, Brazil, which is a super-small farming town," Ribeiro said. "My earliest childhood memories are of running around barefoot, chasing my sister and my cousins and doing farm work. My dad had been in the states working and we saved up enough money that we came to the United States for a better life. I think the way I am now as an athlete, is from the way my mom and dad worked."
It is amazing to see Ribeiro's level of talent and consider she didn't participate in organized athletics until she was a freshman at Chicopee Comprehensive High School. She had natural talent for multiple events in track and field and she played soccer and was captain of the team in her senior season.
"Being here at Murray State has shown me what family is all about and what tradition is all about," she said. "To have teammates that push you and move toward a common goal is great."
Ribeiro is on track to graduate from Murray State in December with a degree in business administration and plans to pursue her MBA.
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Players Mentioned
Jumps/Multi
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Multi
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi/Jumps
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