By Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic: Dominican Republic’s Olympic champion Felix Sanchez is hoping to start landing some consistent performances as he seeks another 400m Hurdles title at this summer’s World Championships in Osaka, Japan.
The two-time world champion, who has been running selected open 400-metre and 400m relay races to get his program back on track, will race in his first hurdles competition race of the year when he goes up against American reigning World champion Bershawn Jackson in the men’s 400m Hurdles in Ostrava and he’s looking forward to his comeback.
“My goal is to run a solid race, execute my race plan, and of course win,” Sanchez was quoted as saying in an IAAF article.
“Time is not important... I'm just glad to be back in good form and being able to compete is so exciting it has felt like an eternity since I have been healthy.”
“Now it is time to return the excitement back to the 400m Hurdles and continue my dominance where I left off after two years of injuries,” he added.
Sanchez, who also holds the meet record of 48.10, set back in 2003, has also said that he is now injury free and is much sharper than he was a few months ago.
“I'm feeling good strong and I'm working on my speed now,” confirmed Sanchez ahead of the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava, which takes place on 27 June.
“I had a minor set back a month ago with my left foot, near my toe, so I had to take 2 weeks off. I'm not where I want to be.”
He added that since winning the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, this is the best he has felt in the last three years.
“I'm slightly behind, but I'm feeling better, the best I have felt in the last 3 years. I remember the first crystal spike that I won in 2003.
“I have vivid memories of Bekele attempting the World record in 2004.”
Meanwhile, Cuban World Indoor silver medallist Dayron Robles has been confirmed to race in the men’s 110m Hurdles event.
The Cuban will take on American Anwar Moore, the winner of the opening meet in the IAAF Golden League in Oslo last Friday. |
