Eric Cray rules 400 meter hurdles once again in the 30th Southeast Asian Games. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
NEW CLARK CITY — Eric Cray proved he is still the backbone of Philippine athletics after he picked up his second gold medal in 30th Southeast Asian Games Tuesday.
Barreling down from the final turn and speeding from the last jump on, Cray captured his fourth straight 400-meter hurdles victory in the SEA Games to give the country its 10th gold in track and field.
“I am so happy,” said Cray who also helped win the 4X100 meter mixed relay Sunday.
He crossed the line in 50.21 seconds, besting Vietnam’s Luch Cong Quach (51.60 seconds). Fellow Filipino Francis Medina was third (51.58).
“I was down the last two years,” Cray told the sportswriters at mixed zone, without explaining why.
“I was really down, but my wife was there to give me so encouragement,” added the 31-year-old.
He emerged from the race gesturing four fingers to the adoring crowd at NCC athletics stadium, signifying his dominance in the event.
The two-time Olympian, though, missed the Tokyo Games qualifying time of 48.90 seconds and was even slower than his own SEA Games standard of 49.40 seconds.