Rio-bound Cray meeting with potential 2016 Olympic benefactors

Eric Cray. INQUIRER File Photo

Filipino-American hurdler Eric Cray will meet potential benefactors here in Manila to bankroll his build-up for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.

Set to arrive Tuesday night, the double-gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games will stay in the country for a week before plunging into the world track and field championships in Beijing, China on Aug. 22.

Cray will run in his pet event—the 400m hurdles—in the worlds, hoping to get past the qualifying heats and earn a podium finish in the finals.

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Track and field chief Philip Juico said the 26-year-old from San Antonio, Texas would be needing P300,000 a month for his preparation until the Rio Games on Aug. 5-21.

“Our main objective is clear. We have to convince them (sponsors) that Eric is worth the investment,” said Juico.

Cray became the fastest man in the recent Singapore SEAG after winning the men’s 100m dash.

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The three-time All-American from University of Oklahoma also topped the 400m hurdles in the record-smashing fashion. He ranks seventh in the world in the 400m hurdles.

A department store employee in Texas, Cray took a leave and began working out full time after he became the first qualifier in the Olympics.

He clocked 49.12 seconds during the Cayman Invite on May 16 to meet the Olympic standard qualifying time of 50 seconds.

Cray will visit top officials of the Philippine Sports Commission Wednesday and schedule a possible meeting with Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr.