Double champion Sanchez makes killer event look easy

To say Felix Sanchez walked away with the men's 400 metres hurdles in Paris last night is probably the wrong expression. It is after all one of the most technical and demanding events on the track. But not since Edwin Moses has anyone made it look easy.

After winning the title two years ago in Edmonton - the first Dominican Republic medal ever at World or Olympic level - the 25-year-old last night dominated the race from start to finish, winning easily in 47.25 seconds, the fastest time in the world this season.

The former baseball player is a household name back home, even if he spends much of his time in Los Angeles. His flashing wristband, a souvenir of his disappointing Sydney Olympics, is one of the most recognised props in athletics.

From the gun last night, the real race was being decided further down the track. Llewellyn Herbert of South Africa was ideally placed for the silver until he slipped and fell at the final hurdle, so America's Joey Woody ended up second in 48.18, just ahead of Periklis Iakovakis of Greece (48.24).

Sanchez has also become one of the few athletes to successfully defend his world title in Paris - and hoping to add his name to that list this afternoon is Ethiopia's marathon champion Gezahegne Abera. It won't be an easy task, however, as it's only been done once before, by Spain's Abel Anton.

Abera has already become the first man to hold the Olympic and World titles simultaneously, and unlike so many great marathon runners before him, he is known for his devastating finishing kick.

He won his title in Edmonton that way, and likewise in London in April, out-kicking Italy's Sefano Baldini - who also goes in today's race - to win by the width of his running vest.

But perhaps the best story surrounding 25-year-old Abera is that of his wedding, which took place shortly after his win in London. He married fellow marathon runner Elfinesh Alemu. Almost 25,000 guests were invited, with the ceremony taking place in the Addis Ababa national stadium.

Not only did that make it the largest documented wedding in Ethiopian history, but Alemu's wedding veil - which measured 600 metres - broke the previous world record set by the late Princess Diana. He insists though that all the celebrations are now behind him.

Alemu runs in tomorrow's women's marathon, with the intention of the couple becoming the first couple in World Championship history to return home from the same championships with medals.

Both marathons follow a difficult but inspiring route around Paris, passing all the historic landmarks en route. Though America's world record holder Khalid Khannouchi is once again absent because of injury, Abera certainly won't have it all his own way.

The race also acts as the marathon World Cup, which allows each nation to enter up to six athletes. Three of the Kenyans are particularly strong, including Michael Rotich, already the winner of the Paris marathon this year - over largely the same course - in a world leading time of 2:06.33.

Another Kenyan entry, Frederick Cherono, was the winner of the Dublin marathon in October, and says he will be in Dublin to defend his title in two months' time.