Rio-bound Cray rips national mark in Japan tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Am Eric Cray stepped up his buildup for the Rio Olympics, churning out a record-setting run in the Golden Grand Prix 2016 at the Todoroki Stadium in Kawasaki, Japan yesterday.

The 27-year-old Cray, one of the country’s representatives to the quadrennial games set Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, clocked 49.07 seconds to shatter the national 400m hurdles record of 49.12 he himself set in the Cayman Invitationals in Georgetown, Cayman Islands last year.

Cray, however, failed to bag the gold, which Japanese Keisuke Nozawa took in 48.67 seconds.

Another Japanese, Yuki Matsushita, snared the bronze in 49.10 seconds.

“Just ran a personal best today (yesterday) in Japan to kick my season off,” said Cray in his official Facebook account.

Despite his impressive showing, Cray said he still has a lot to do before reaching peak form for the Rio Games.

“I have a lot to fix before Rio Olympics but I feel confident I will be at my best when it’s time,” added Cray, who thanked Lafarge Cement, Philippine Stock Exchange, Hertz, Rapide Auto, Rustan’s, Carmen’s Ice Cream and Jim Lafferty for funding his Japan trip.

It was the second medal finish for Cray in an international race this year after he captured the bronze in the 60m event at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar in February.