Felix Sanchez in action in the men's 400m Hurdles heats (© Getty Images)
Dominican Republic's double World 400m Hurdles champion Felix Sanchez has confirmed his attendance in the 2004 Banamex Grand Prix Athletic Show, to be held at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in the Mexican capital, on 22 May.
"Super" Sanchez, as he is also known, will try to improve his fourth place at the flat 400m at the inaugural Grand Prix in 2003. He clocked 45.22 in a race won by USA's Derek Brew (44.83), followed by another American, Nelson Corey (45.00), and Bahamas' 2001 World champion Avard Moncur (45.00).
Awarded as the best Latin American male sportsman of 2003, the 26-year old is focusing his season on the Olympic gold and a share in the Golden League jackpot, as he did in 2002.
The Dominican has an impressive winning streak in the 400 metres Hurdles. He has been undefeated in 28 finals since Lausanne on 4 July 2001. His last loss was to Japan's Dai Tamesue in Zagreb, Croatia, on July 2, 2001.
The Edmonton and Paris World champion is expected to make his season's debut in a meeting he is helping organize in Santo Domingo on 1 May, while his first 400 metres hurdles race is scheduled for the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Ostrava, on June 8.
Sanchez now joins USA's John Capel (200m) and Allen Johnson (110m Hurdles) and South Africa's high jumper Hestrie Cloete as the first four Paris World champions to say yes to the 22 May Mexican meeting.
