Cray finishes strong, rules 400m hurdles

NAY PYI TAW – Hurdler Eric Shawn Cray exploded into the lead in the last 150 meters and took the 400m hurdles title pulling away to give the Philippines its first gold medal in the event in recent memory and raise hopes yesterday of a fruitful harvest for the 24-member athletics team under the tutelage of former PSC chairman Philip Ella Juico.

The 25-year-old Olongapo-born Cray who finished college at the University of Oklahoma, clocked 51.29 seconds. Second was Andrian Andrian of Indonesia in 51.74 while third was Xuan Cuong Dao of Vietnam in 51.79.

“It was an easy win,” said Cray, who honed his skills under the Oklahoma Sooners program in San Antonio, Texas.

“My dream is to win more medals and hopefully also win in the Asian Games next year and the Olympics in 2016,” said Cray, who was spotted by American coach Ryan Flaherty in this year’s National Games.

“I hope we can also bring home the gold in the 4x400 meter relay,” Cray said.

Melvin Guarte, the NCAA standout who has won gold medals in the 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, 5K and 4x400m relay for four straight years, was hobbling with a plantar injury that put him behind the leaders in the first lap.

He felt severe pain in the second lap but fought it off in a brave display in the last lap to manage second in 1:51 behind a Malaysian (1:50.9).

The athletics team stands to win more medals as Jason Cid was leading in decathlon. Also a cinch to win the gold is Tyler Ruiz, a Fil-American who has a personal best of 2.18m in the high jump. His mark would erase the 2.06 Philippine mark posted by Juico’s nephew Luis in 1979.

Others competing in athletics are Christopher Ulboc Jr. and Rene Herrera in the 3000 m steeplechase, Jessica Barnard in the 300m steeplechase and Rosie Villarito in the javelin throw.

Juico is in the SEA Games as manager of the team.