2006: Competed in six events... had three top-15 finishes and was UCR’s top finisher on three occasions... placed third on the team and sixth overall at the UCR Season Opener with UCLA (9/1/06), covering the 6K course in 17:59.70... finished ninth overall and second on the team at the UCR Invitational (9/30/06), covering 8K in 24:48.30... finished first on the team and 12th overall at the Sundodger Invitational (9/16/06). finishing the 8K course in 24:26.00... finished first on the team and 73rd overall at the Chili Pepper Invitational (10/14/06) in 31:24.60 over 10K... was first on the team and 19th overall at the Big West Championships (10/28/06) in 27:19.20 over 8K.
2005: Finished 44th in 28:06.0 at the CS Fullerton Opener (9/3/05)... finished 17th in 25:30.2 at the UCR Invitational (10/1/05)... finished 39th overall and first on the team in 25:32 at the Drews/Neubauer Invitational (10/15/05)... finished 25th overall and first on the team in 24:59.6 at the Big West Championship (10/29/05)... finished 59th overall and first on the team in 31:36.6 at the NCAA West Regionals (11/12/05).
High School: was a four year letterwinner in both cross country and track and field at Antelope Valley HS... four-time All-Golden League honoree in cross country... helped his team to a first place finish in the Moore League in cross country... finished second in the state in cross country in Division II as a senior... finished 11th in the Foot Locker West Regionals in 2004... owns the school record in the two mile, the 4x400 relay and distance medley relay.
Personal: Jose Alberto Melena is the son of Alberto and Yolanda Melena... has not declared a major... hopes to become a teacher... roots for the Los Angeles Lakers... favorite athletes are Lance Armstrong, Bernard Lagat and Haile Gebrselassie... favorite author is Ralph Waldo Emerson... favorite novels are “Paradise Lost” and “Rain of Gold”... favorite musical group is AFI... enjoys writing in his spare time... favorite movies are “Braveheart”, “Without Limits”, and “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”... is the first member of his family to attend a four-year university and says his goal is to “show my brothers that they can be successful too.”