Fil-Am hurdler Eric Cray advances to semifinals

The Philippines’ Eric Cray, left, and Japan’s Keisuke Nozawa compete in the Men’s 400m Hurdles Round 1 during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 15, 2016. AFP / OLIVIER MORIN

RIO DE JANEIRO—FILIPINO-AMERICAN Eric Shauwn Cray seized third place in the fourth heat of 400-meter hurdles on Monday morning and qualified for the semifinals at the Main Olympic Stadium in Enginao here.

Cray timed 49.05 seconds in finishing third to Japan’s Keisuke Nozawa, who clocked 48.62,  and Ireland’s Thomas Barr who timed 48.93.

His time in the heats barely missed his personal-best and Philippine record of 49.98, which he set in the IAAF World Challenge in Madrid three months ago.

Jaheel Hyde, a member of Jamaica’s celebrated team of track stars, faded in the last 100 meters and was pipped for the heat’s last slot. He timed 49.24.

Spain’s Sergio Fernandez came in fifth in 49.31, followed by Great Britain’s Sebastian Rodger in 49.54, South Africa’s Le Roux Hamman (49.72) and TTO’s Jehue Gordon (49.98).

The 27-year-old Cray, who is coached by Jamaica’s three-time Olympian Devian Clark, will be in the first of three heats in the semifinals on Tuesday at 9:35 p.m. (Wednesday morning in Manila) where the eight hurdlers with the best times will advance to the medal round.

Marestella Torres-Sunang vies in the women’s long jump earlier at 9:05 p.m. seeking one of 12 berths in the finals.