Felix ?Super? Sanchez took part in the qualifying heats for the 400-meter hurdle event today, in which he earned a time of 48:51. This time secures him a spot in tomorrow?s semi-finals. He is the best Dominican hope for a medal, and perhaps the favorite in his event. The finals for this event are due to take place on Thursday.
Carlos Yohelin Santa won his preliminary heat of the 400-meter race with a respectable time of 45:31. Unfortunately, in the semi-finals he earned a lesser time of 45.58, which was not good enough to qualify him for the finals. If the Dominican Republic is permitted to field a 4 x 400 team, a decision that is pending on the Technical Committee, Santa may have one more chance to win a medal. The other Dominican runner, Juan Sainflaur, injured himself and was unable to finish his heat. Skeet-shooter Julio Elizardo Dujarric qualified for the semi-finals in his specialty event in ninth place among the 41 competitors, but came in 21st in the semi-finals and will not go on to the finals. In boxing, the DR?s Juan Carlos Payano lost to Frenchman Jerome Thomas. The women?s Pan-American champion volleyball team has had a rough ride in these Olympic Games. After beating the USA in five sets, Cristobal Marte?s athletes lost 0-3 to Cuba and were eliminated by yesterday?s 0-3 defeat by Germany. This was the first appearance of a Dominican volleyball team at the Olympic level.