FILIPINO-AMERICAN Eric Shauwn Cray displays the national flag after landing the gold in the men’s 400m hurdles. RAFFY LERMA FILE PHOTO
Fil-Am hurdler Eric Shauwn Cray can now quit his job in the United States and focus on his training for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Renato Unso, secretary general of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, said the association has raised funds so that Cray can train full time for the Olympics.
“We’ve already come up with the needed amount,” said Unso.
Patafa president Philip Ella Juico, according to Unso, has raised about P9 million from private sponsors to bankroll the participation of four to five athletes for Olympic qualifiers.
The 26-year-old Cray qualified for Rio after meeting the Olympic standard in the 400-meter hurdles. He clocked 49.12 seconds in the event during the Cayman Invite in May, well under the Olympic qualifying time of 50 seconds.
Cray had asked the Patafa for a monthly allowance of $6,000 to subsidize his training.