ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Roberto Vives has been selected by the Federación de Atletismo de Puerto Rico to serve as team leader for their contingent of qualifiers for the 2022 World Outdoor Championships.
 
"I am humbled, honored and thankful to serve Puerto Rico, the birthplace of my parents, as Team Leader at this prestigious World Athletics Championships event," said Vives.
 
Vives will oversee a squad of seven athletes, including UAlbany alumna Grace Claxton, who will once again compete in her signature event, the 400m hurdles.  Claxton earned an automatic qualifying bid with a personal-best 55.25 result in Madrid on June 18.  Claxton previously competed at World Outdoor Championships in 2017 in London.
 
Joining Claxton on the Puerto Rico team is Jasmine Camacho Quinn, winner of the women's 100m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, and Ayden Owens-Delerme from the University of Arkansas, who set a new meet record to win the decathlon at the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships.  Other members include Beverly Ramos in the marathon, Rachelle de Orbeta in the 20k racewalk, Paola Vazquez in the 100m hurdles, and Gabby Scott Puig in the 400m.
 
Vives previously worked with the Puerto Rico National Team at the 2019 Pan American Games and the 2018 World Indoor Championships.  In 2015, Vives worked for Team USA at the North America, Central America, and Caribbean Senior Area Championships.
 
The 2022 World Outdoor Championships will be held from July 15-24 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore.  The meet will be broadcast on the NBC family of networks and streamed on Peacock.