PH runner Cray finishes sixth in Asian Games 400m hurdles

Eric Cray, the only Filipino finalist in athletics in the 2014 Asian Games, finished sixth in the 400-meter hurdles due to incorrect race tactics on Wednesday, October 1 in Incheon, South Korea.

Cray finished sixth in 51.47 seconds in a field of seven runners. His time was .47 hundredths of a second slower than his time in the heats. That time of 50 seconds, erasing his national mark of 50.47 seconds, spurred optimists that he could end the country’s 20 year medal drought.

But he did not take the pause that refreshes. In a private message, Cray’s coach, Keith Sharper, said: “It wasn’t that fast thru the first 200. He didn’t take a relaxing break through 4 (th hurdle) to 6 (th hurdle). Just kept gunning it.” 

Added Philip Juico, president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, in a text message to Rappler.” He just got tight in the 8th (third to the last) hurdle.”

Khamis Abbas Ali Khamis Ali of Bahrain won in 49.71 followed by Takayuki Kishimoto of Japan, 49.81 and Wen Cheng of China in 50.29. 

Jeeson Ramil Cid withdrew from the pole vault in the decathlon after a knee injury. – Rappler.com