Giovanni Lanaro (MEX) (© Kirby Lee)
Middle distance specialist Pablo Solares and Pole Vaulter Giovanni Lanaro carry Mexico's hopes for the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships, Valencia, Spain (7-9 March 2008).
Solares, 23, will contest the 1500m after improving the Central American and Caribbean mile record (3:58.50) in Fayetteville, on 15 February.
Earlier, the Rice University student broke the Mexican indoor 1500m record with 3:45.03, en route to a longer distance. He is expected to better that mark in the Spanish city.
Another USA-based athlete, Giovanni Lanaro, equalled his area indoor record with 5.71m on 16 February and hopes to perform close or better than his fourth place in Moscow 2006.
In the High Jump, Gerardo Martínez has competed in his busiest indoor campaign event, with seven outings, including his national record leap of 2.24m in Novi Sad, on 7 February. He also boasts the Mexican outdoor mark with 2.30, set in 2007.
Romary Rifka, 34, is back to the World Indoor Championships after her attendance in Budapest 2004. After six competitions this winter, she shows a personal best of 1.84.
David Galván, the 2007 Pan American Games champion, will make his World Indoor Championship debut. The 34-year old will run the 3000m, a distance in which he was runner-up at the 2002 World Cup in Madrid.
Initially scheduled to compete, two-time 2006 CAC Games champion Juan Luis Barrios will focus on his training towards the Olympics.
Mexico attended all previous world indoor championships and has collected two bronze medals: Ernesto Canto (5000m Walk in Indianapolis 1987) and Alejandro Cardenas (400m in Maesbashi 1999).
World and Olympic medallist Ana Guevara, who announced her retirement earlier in 2008, was fourth over 400m in Maesbashi.
Javier Clavelo Robinson for the IAAF
Mexican team for Valencia and their indoor bests
Women
HJ Romary Rifka (1.86-2004/1.84-2008)
Men
1500m Pablo Solares (3:45.03-2008)
3000m David Galván (no indoor marks)
HJ Gerardo Martínez (2.24-2008)
PV Giovanni Lanaro (5.71-2006/5.71)
