WASHINGTON – All-American Rey Rivera (Old Bridge, N.J./Old Bridge), who just completed his first year on the Hilltop, closed out the 2017-18 campaign with a semifinals appearance at the IAAF World U-20 Championships. The six-day meet brought the best young track & field talent from around the world to Ratina Stadium in Tampere, Finland. Rivera, competing for Team USA, was one of two Hoyas to compete in the world event as classmate Ruach Padhal (London, Ont./John Paull II Catholic) was a member of Athletics Canada with the duo competing in the 800-meter run.
 
The GU pair both competed in the first round of competition, a field of 29, on Friday morning. Padhal, a competitor in the second of four heats, went out fast, going through the first 400 meters in second place. However, as the pack hit the final straightaway, Padhal's kick was not enough as he clocked 1:51.67 to take fifth in his heat, falling short of a qualifying mark.
 
Rivera, one of two representing the United States of America, competed in the final heat of the first round. Like Padhal, he went through the first 400 meters with the second-fastest time. Rivera held on, doing what he needed to advance by nabbing the third and final spot from his heat with a time of 1:49.53.
 
The All-American returned for the semifinals the following day and again found himself at the front of the race, this time in the second of a two-heat semi. He split 52.74 through the first 400 meters, the second-fastest of the heat, but couldn't hold the pace through the bell lap, crossing the line with a time of 1:50.48 to finish seventh in his heat.
 
With Rivera and Padhal advancing to the IAAF World U-20 Championships, a biennial event, it marks the second time in the last three championships that the Hoyas have advanced a pair to the world competition. The previous time was in 2014 when the championships were held in Eugene, Oregon. Georgetown tallied a pair on Team USA, competing in the men's 10,000-meter run and the women's 800-meter run.