Dash it, Cray: ‘Tired’ Fil-Am sprinter vows century comeback in Manila 2019

Eric Cray of the Philippines competes in the men’s 400-meter hurdles event of the 29th Southeast Asian Games. Cray clocked 50.03 seconds to win the gold medal. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

KUALA LUMPUR—Because of a tough schedule, Eric Shawn Cray had little left in him to defend his century dash crown Tuesday night.

A little rested and with an eye to the future, Cray has vowed payback on two fronts.

“I got something for them (Filipino fans). I’ll recover, come back and we’re gonna chase that gold in the 4×100,” Cray vowed, referring to the men’s 4×100-meter relay on Friday.

Then, with the Philippines sewing up hosting rights for the 30th edition of the Games, Cray vowed to give the 100-m dash another run.

“I’ll [be] definitely back for the 100 in Manila,” said Cray.

The vow means he gets to renew his rivalry with 19-year-old Malaysian sprint king Khairul Hafiz Jantan, who pipped him for the century dash crown. The 100-m final was held just an hour after Cray won the 400m hurdles.

“Oh yeah, I was definitely tired,” said Cray, who won the hurdles gold by barely holding off Vietnamese upstart Quach Cong Lich.

Athletics chief Philip Juico had written Malaysian SEA Games organizers months earlier for a review and rescheduling of the hurdles and 100-m finals, to no avail.

The Rio Olympic Games veteran managed to push Jantan hard in their duel, but the Malaysian had a lot more in his tank to rock the National Stadium inside the KL Sports City.

Jantan had enough to push ahead in the final meters to the finish, winning athletics’ centerpiece event in 10.38 seconds. Cray hit the finish in 10.43, pushing Thai Kritsada Namsuwun to the bronze in a photo finish.

“I gave it all I had but he (Jantan) ran a good race,” said the Filipino-American. “I wish (the 100 meters) was tomorrow and I could have recovered, and, you know, felt a little better.”