Edgar Rivera, first Mexican to qualify for London's final 2017

The high jump specialist, Edgar Rivera , became the first Mexican athlete to qualify for the London 2017 IAAF World Championship in Athletics final, after breaking the record this Friday.

Edgar Rivera, who lives and trains in Cologne (Germany), topped the height of 7.51 feet ( 2.29 meters ) in his first attempt, an achievement that made him reach the Sunday final, after struggling in the 7.41 feet ( 2.26 meters ) height, which he topped on his third attempt.

Before, Edgar Rivera had topped the heights of 7.11 feet ( 2.17 meters ) and 7.28 feet ( 2.22 meters ) on first attempts.

With a 7.51 feet ( 2.29 meters ) height, Rivera matched his country's record, which he established in 2016, topping for 0.3 inches (1 centimeter) his own record of 7.48 feet ( 2.28 meters ).

The organizers established 7.57 feet ( 2.31 meters ) height to qualify for the London final, a record that the Mexican failed on his three jumps.

However, the 7.51 feet height helped him to be among the 12 best athletes of the 27 participants, ending as the seventh of his group and tenth of the general competition.

Edgar Rivera, 26 years old, is the middle child of three brothers that excel in athletics. The oldest, Luis , is the family emblem, after his bronze in long jump in Moscow 2013 IAAF World Championship in Athletics .

This is Edgar Rivera's third World Championship, after not qualifying for 2011 Daegu and Moscow 2013 . He could not reach the final in the 2016 Summer Olympics ( Rio 2016 ).

The athlete has been a scholarship holder for more than two years in Cologne ( Germany ), where his athletic career has launched.

sg