P4.6M Rio buildup set for Cray

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-American track star Eric Cray will cross the globe with a war chest of P4.6 million as he gears up for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Cray, who won two gold medals for the Philippines in the recent SEA Games in Singapore, will compete in 17 international tournaments in 2016 leading to the Olympics set Aug. 5-21.

The 21-year-old Cray is currently in Beijing for the World Championships and from there he travels to Thailand for the Thai Open on Sept. 6-9.

The three-time All-American from the University of Oklahoma will travel the world hoping to be in tip-top shape for the 400m hurdles of the Rio Olympics.

Next year, Cray will vie in 17 tournaments – eight in Europe,  five in Asia and four in the United States.

“No stone will be left unturned,” said Philippine track and field head Philip Juico.

Philippine Olympic Committee official Romeo Magat yesterday said Juico has drawn up a budget of $102,740 (roughly P4.6 million) for Cray’s Olympic buildup.

Magat, one of the POC officials tasked to oversee the country’s preparations for the next Olympics, said POC president Jose Cojuangco has endorsed the request.

The Philippine Sports Commission under Richie Garcia has given Cray, winner of the 100m dash and 400m hurdles in the Singapore SEA Games, its stamp of approval.

“All the financial requests of Cray have already been approved by the PSC,” said Magat.

Cray, who has decent world ranking in the 400m hurdles, has a personal best of 49.12 seconds which he registered during the Cayman Invite last May.

That effort gave Cray the ticket to Rio, becoming the first Filipino athlete to officially qualify for the next Olympics.

To have a crack at a medal in Rio, the Fil-American athlete must at least come close to 48 seconds.