Career
He set his personal best (8:2889) in that event on June 17, 1983 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the silver medalist at the 1983 Pan American Games and competed at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics later that year, where he was knocked out in the heats stage. In his only Olympic appearance in 1984, he finished twelfth in his semi-final in the men"s steeplechase.
He took the bronze medal at the 1985 CAC Championships.
Rios attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where he still holds the school record in the Steeplechase set at the United States of America Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana at 8:28.89 from 1983. Prior to Cal Poly, he competed for Long Beach City College, winning the state community college championship back to back in 1979 and 80.
In 2013, he was honored in the Long Beach City College "Hall of Champions.".