The Clásico Félix Sánchez 2022, an international track and field competition sanctioned by World Athletics, will take place in Bayaguana, Dominican Republic on May 14.
Sánchez, two-time world and Olympic champion in the 400 meter hurdles, made the announcement during a press conference held this Thursday at the facilities of the Dominican Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
The event was born last year as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics but now athletes from more than 20 countries will travel to the Dominican Republic as part of the Latin American tour looking to add valuable points to their world ranking.
Many of the top Dominican athletes are scheduled to compete in the event which is also sanctioned by the Dominican Federation of Athletics Associations and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association.
“I am pleased to announce the celebration of this athletic tournament whose ultimate goal is to increase the expansion of our sports discipline in our country,” said Sánchez, who achieved a historic feat by being the first Dominican to win an Olympic gold medal in Athens 2004.
“I just hope that with these types of events we can contribute to building a new generation of Dominican athletes properly trained and with a wide variety of opportunities to compete at a high level,” added Sánchez.
“It’s time to multiply those medals” is precisely the motto adopted for the event.
The professional competition has a bronze level in the WA tests and Sánchez pointed out that the goal is to continue raising the level of the tests each year, as well as the participants and the metallic prizes.
The competition program includes the 200, 400 and 800 meters, 400 hurdles and the triple jump for both genders, being the 100 meters for men and the high jump for women.