Ponce PUR - The Dominican Republic’s Felix Sanchez sealed a busy Saturday (19) at the Paquito Montaner Stadium anchoring his country to the 4x400m win after finishing fifth over 400m at the Ponce Grand Prix - NACAC Permit - in Puerto Rico.

As part of his comeback trail, the two-time World and 2004 Olympic 400m Hurdles champion ran his second 400m flat this season, but could only manage a fifth place (46.45) showing, in a race won by USA’s Ricky Harris (45.78).

His countryman and CAC Games bronze medallist Arismendy Peguero (45.86) was second while Felix Martinez broke his Puerto Rican record (45.92) for the second time this year to finish third, well ahead of USA’s 2004 Olympic runner-up Otis Harris (46.36).

One hour and a half later, the 29-year-old made up for his fifth place as he led the Dominican Republic squad to take revenge from the US and Puerto Rico in the 4x400m Relay with 3:04.93.

“I have to do something because things did not come out as expected when we finished third in my country,” said Sanchez, referring to his team performance at the Felix Sanchez Invitational a week earlier.

The winning squad was made up of Yoel Tapia, Arismendy Peguero, Pedro Mejia and Sanchez.

The Dominican Republic’s only Olympic champion plans to make his debut in the 400m Hurdles in New York, on 2 June.

“I felt well. After two injury-plagued seasons, it’s difficult to come back, more mentally than physically,” he added.

Sanchez is steadily returning to his best form in a quest for a successful title defence at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro and a third global crown at the World Championships in Osaka.

In his main event, 2006 Iberoamerican champion Javier Culson pleased the home crowd and repeated his victory from the 2006 Carolina GP as he crossed the finish line 49.43. He had lowered the Island’s national record with a 49.07 at the Jamaica Invitational on 5 May.

USA’s Shane Clarke (51.33) and Oscar Candanoza (51.59) were distant second and third, as two other pre-favorites, Fred Sharpe and Dwight Ruff of the US did not finish.

Puerto Rican national record in 1500m

The 7000-plus crowd also enjoyed a close duel between Kenya’s Geoffrey Rono and David Freeman in the 1500m. As he did a week earlier in Santo Domingo, Rono cruised to victory in 3:36.64 and propelled CAC Games silver medallist Freeman to break Puerto Rico’s 30-year-old national record with a 3:38.90 effort. Freeman had also erased the 800m mark with a 1:46.94 run earlier this month.

It was the second national record of the night as Puerto Rican athletes have broken more than 10 this season in their preparation for the Pan American Games.

The sprints were taken by Jamaica’s Marvin Anderson (10.26) and Nolle Graham, edging Bahamas’ seven-time Olympic and World medallist Chandra Strurrup. Both were timed 11.43.

Pate triumphs in Long Jump

In the field, 2003 World Indoor Championships bronze medallist Miguel Pate of the US prevailed in the Long Jump (8.02), ahead of his countryman, 2004 Olympic silver medallist John Moffit (7.89).

Another American, Triple Jump world champion Walter Davis only had one valid jump, a poor 7.32, to finish fourth.

As in 2006, the women’s event was taken by Jamaica’s CAC record holder Elva Goulbourne (6.48), who had finished third in the 100m.

In the men’s Triple Jump, Bahamas’ 2003 World Championships bronze medallist Leevan Sands landed at 17.12 on his second attempt to beat home crowd favorite and defending champion Allen Simms (17.04).

The three horizontal jumping events were contested in four rounds.

In the women’s 400m, Demetria Washington (52.36) continued a successful Caribbean tour as she won a close race over Russia’s 2003 World 200m champion Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (52.38).

Other winners were USA’s Nicky McEwen in the Pole Vault (4.10), Dominique Darden in the 400m Hurdles (55.56), Colombia’s Iberoamerican champion Rosibel Garcia in the 800m (2:01.46) and Puerto Rico’s Alex Greaux in the 3000m Steeplechase (8:58.44).

In total, 10 current or former World and Olympic medallists highlighted an enjoyable event of athletics, run by Central American Caribbean Athletics Confederation (CACAC) president and IAAF Coaches Commission Chairman Victor Lopez. The event was capped by a reggaeton concert.

By hosting its annual Grand Prix, Ponce hopes to stage it every year following a successful organization of the 2006 Iberoamerican Championships. It previously hosted the CAC Games in 1993 and the CAC Championships in 1975.

The Caribbean athletics tour will continue next weekend with the Barrientos Memorial in Havana, May 25-27.