The very first track and field Grand Prix begins tomorrow at four o?clock in the afternoon in the huge Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo. This will be the first event of the Grand Prix Athletic Circuit of the Caribbean. Yesterday, Minister of Sports, Cesar Cedeno, announced that President Hipolito Mejia had given instructions that the event be free to the public. This gesture was designed to insure a full hose that would encourage the Dominican athletes, as well as the many foreign participants..According to Andres Polimir, the president of the Dominican Track and Field Federation, as many as 45,000 spectators can see the event. In a press conference held at the Verizon Club, Felix Sanchez told reporters that he would be running the 400 meters as part of his preparation for the Olympic Games to be held in Athens this summer. According to the two-time world 400 meter hurdle champion, ?it is too early in the season to do the hurdles.? Sanchez said that he is about 30% above his condition at this time last year, a year in which he conquered the world title for a second time as well as the gold medal in his specialty at the Pan American Games held in Santo Domingo. According to a press release by the IAAF, many international stars have been invited to the event. The IAAF reports that Dominican track and field star Felix Sanchez is in Santo Domingo for the 1 May North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletic Association. Prize money amounting to US$170,000 will be distributed among the competing athletes. Two-time world champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Sanchez will be competing only in the 400-meter run. And Pan American Games gold medalist, Juana Arendel will be competing in the women?s high jump.
According to Tony Campbell, the event?s co-ordinator, some 45 international track and field competitors will take part, including world long-jump champion Dwight Phillips from the United States. The men will see competitions in the 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter run, 1,500-meter run, 400-meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and triple jump. Women?s competitions will include the 100-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles, 400-meters run, 400-meter hurdles, 1,500-meter, high jump, long jump, triple jump and shot put.
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