Cray, Beram banner Asiad athletics squad

Filipino-American speed demon Eric Cray —PHOTO BY RAFFY LERMA

Sprinter Trenten Beram and hurdler Eric Cray have been seeded to the Philippine track and field team bound for the 18th Asian Games in Indonesia.

The Southeast Asian Games gold medalists banner the 18-man athletics squad forwarded by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for approval.

Joining them in the Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 meet are former Asian long jump queen Marestella Torres-Sunang, decathlete Aries Toledo, triple jumper Harry Diones, marathoner Mary Joy Tabal and 800-meter specialist Marco Vilog.

Patafa secretary general Renato Unso said Beram and Cray earned automatic spots based on their gold- or silver-medal feats in last year’s SEA Games in Malaysia, or records equivalent to fifth overall in Asia.

Beram is the reigning men’s 200m and 400m champion in the SEA Games while Cray, the record-holder in the men’s 400m hurdles, won his pet event for the third consecutive time in Kuala Lumpur last year.

Other athletes recommended by Patafa but must secure clearances from the POC are long jumper Janry Ubas, Jomar Udtohan and Anfernee Lopena in the men’s 4x100m relay, Francis Medina (400m hurdles), Clinton Kingsley Bautista (110m hurdles) and Edgardo Alejan and Michael del Prado in the 4x400m relay.