AUSTIN, Texas – Mizzou Track & Field had three student-athletes earn All-America recognition on Friday at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas. Redshirt sophomore Sophia Rivera (Brentwood, Mo.) earned First Team honors with a sixth-place finish in the javelin, while freshman Roberto Vilches (Mexico City, Mexico) earned Second Team honors with a ninth-place finish in the high jump and freshman Georgi Nachev (Yambol, Bulgaria) earned Honorable Mention honors with a 22nd-place finish in the triple jump.
SOPHIA RIVERA
Rivera's sixth-place finish in the javelin is the second-ever All-America performance by a female Mizzou student-athlete, and the highest NCAA finish ever in program history. The only other Tiger to earn All-America honors in the javelin was Hailey Twietmeyer, who finished 15th in 2014. Rivera produced a mark of 53.34m (175-0) in her third attempt to record the first All-America honor in her career.
Her performance concludes a highly successful debut season in the Black & Gold for Rivera, who set the Mizzou school record in the javelin at the John McDonnell Invitational (April 12) with a mark of 55.73m (182-10) and finished runner-up in the event at the SEC Outdoor Championships (May 9) with a throw of 54.22m (177-11).
Rivera also competed in the discus during the 2019 outdoor season, where she produced the No. 3 mark in program history (55.75m/182-11) and finished third at the SEC Outdoor Championships (May 11).
ROBERTO VILCHES
With the ninth-place finish, Vilches becomes the fifth outdoor high jump All-American in program history, following Tom Bransford (1925 – 1st), Bob Lang (1956 – T-1st), and Nat Page (1976 – 3rd, 1979 – 1st). The All-America honor is the second of Vilches' freshman campaign, after he finished 15th at the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 9).
Vilches cleared 2.18m (7-1.75) to finish ninth, the sixth time in six meets this season he has cleared seven feet. In addition to his second All-America honor, the Tiger freshman concludes his debut campaign with an All-SEC performance at the SEC Outdoor Championships (May 10 – 5th) and the No. 2 mark all-time in program history (2.27m/7-5.25), which he set at the Mizzou Spring Open (April 6).
GEORGI NACHEV
In the triple jump, Nachev posted a mark of 15.37m (50-5.25) to finish 22nd. Nachev concludes his freshman season with an All-SEC performance at the SEC Outdoor Championships (May), where he set the No. 7 mark all-time in program history at 15.84m (51-11.75).
UP NEXT
Mizzou will finish up competition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday with two student-athletes scheduled to compete. Redshirt senior Gabi Jacobs (Bloomington, Ill.) will start the day off for Mizzou in the discus at 5:05 p.m. CT, followed by freshman Mirieli Santos (Mato Grosso, Brazil) in the triple jump at 5:40 p.m. CT.
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MIZZOU RESULTS - FIELD EVENTS
High Jump, Men – T-9. Roberto Vilches, 2.18m (7-1.75)
Triple Jump, Men – 22. Georgi Nachev, 15.37m (50-5.25) (1.1)
Javelin, Women – 6. Sophia Rivera, 53.34m (175-0) (3 points)