Japan’s Keisuke Nozawa (R) and Philippines’ Eric Cray 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
RIO DE JANEIRO—Eric Cray admittedly would have posted a better time and finish if only he kept his focus up to the payoff line.
Instead, he glanced to his left to see if anyone was within touching distance.
Bad move.
Ireland’s Thomas Barr wheezed by in Lane 3 and pipped him for second spot in their heat of the 400-meter hurdles at the Olympic Stadium in Engenhao district here.
No harm there as both Barr and Cray advanced to the semifinals along with the heat winner, Keisuke Nozawa of Japan, but the Filipino-American hurdler knows he cannot afford to repeat the mistake in Tuesday night’s semifinals.
“I felt good and relaxed going to the last few meters,” he said, laughing at his own folly. “I didn’t see anybody, except the Japanese, when I checked my left.”
Cray said he was confident coming into the race that he would reach the semifinals.
“I had no doubts,” said the former department store sales agent in El Paso, Texas. “I just wanted to go out there to race. I did that good and I’m going to the semis.”
He said Nozawa, who also landed in his heat in the semifinals, is a familiar competitor. They competed together in the Kawasaki Grand Prix in Japan in the first week of May and posted quick times.
“I raced with him in my first event of the season and we actually had almost the same times. He ran 48.6 and I ran a bit over 49, in first weekend of May,” Cray said. “I know he’s a pretty good guy.”
But Nozawa might be the least of his worries.
American star Kerron Clement, who has a season-best 48.40 seconds, top qualifier Annsert Whyte of Jamaica and everyone who has set the year’s best times are competing here.
“I think most are (in the semifinals) by now, and there’s still competition tomorrow,” Cray said. “They’re pretty fast, that’s why they’re all here. I know they are going to run pretty fast , so I’m hoping I get to break 49 again in the semis to have a chance.”
Cray said he will need a complete rest in the morning and afternoon in order to psyche himself up for the biggest race of his career.
“I want to go back there (stadiun) rested and be ready tomorrow.
At least now, he has accomplished Goal No. 1, Cray said.