Cray not concerned with tight schedule ahead

(From L) USA’s Kerron Clement, Philippines’ Eric Cray and Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru Tumuti compete in the Men’s 400m Hurdles Semifinal during the athletics event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 16, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE

KUALA LUMPUR — Eric Cray, the face of Philippine athletics, will need even stronger legs for Tuesday’s “killer schedule.”

The Philippine-born, Texas USA-based Cray will vie in the heats of 100-meter dash at 3:30 p.m. and 400m hurdles at 4:30 p.m. He won both events two years ago in Singapore.

If successful, the 400m hurdles and century dash finals will be at 8:20 p.m. and 9:40 p.m., respectively.

But the 28-year-old Cray doesn’t mind the tight schedule.

He said he will “just go out there and run” as the SEA Games’ centrepiece sport goes full blast at 85,000-seater Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Joining Cray in the century dash heats is three-time US NCAA sprints champ Anfernee Lopena.

Fil-American Zion Nelson Corrales will take up the cudgels for the Philippines in the women’s century dash as last SEAG champ Kayla Richardson decided to skip the event to focus on the 200m and hurdles.

Aries Toledo will also take the spotlight when he competes in men’s decathlon, while Rosie Vilarito and Evalyn Palabrica see action in women’s javelin throw.

The country won five golds two years ago and is eyeing seven this time, with one already chalked up by marathon queen Mary Joy Tabal.