Cray confident of claiming Paris Games slot early

Eric Cray won his gold medal in 400 men hurdles, his six seagame gold medal in the same category held at Morodok Techno National Stadium

BANGKOK—Eric Cray is not looking past what his targets are in the 25th Asian Athletics Championships.

“My primary goals are to win here and qualify for the Olympics,” the Texas-based Cray said as he campaigns in the 400-meter hurdles at Supachalasai National Stadium here, looking to win the event for the second time since 2017 while qualifying for the Paris 2024 Games if he runs better than 48.70 seconds.

“The motivation is to win, that’s what I’m worried about right now. I really don’t know who is here, but it’s going to be a great competition,’’ said Cray, the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympian.

Cray’s top clocking is 49.40 and he is confident that he can make a return trip to the Olympics on or before the Asian Games in September if he remains healthy.

“I am hoping to qualify as early as now, although there are still more qualifying meets later,’’ said Cray, who added the World Athletics Championships in Hungary and the Asian Games in China to his itinerary.

Only qualifier

EJ Obiena, the third-ranked pole vaulter in the world, is so far the only Filipino qualifier for Paris.

Cray, the long-running Southeast (SEA) Games record-holder will get a shot at Paris early Friday in the heats and could earn more chances to match the Olympic standard in the semifinals and finals.

Among those standing on his path to the gold are two-time Asian silver medalist Chieh Chen (49.89) and Ming Yang Peng (49.36) of Chinese Taipei, Japan’s Yusaku Kodama (48.77) and Kaito Tsutsue (49.35), Qatar’s Ismail Abakar (49.18) and India’s Yashas Palaksha (49.40).

“As long as I get it sooner or later, I will be happy,’’ added Cray.

Also aiming for a trip to the podium and an Olympic spot on Friday is SEA Games long-jump champion Janry Ubas, whose 8.08-meter record is about seven inches short of the Olympic qualification standard of 8.27.

John Christopher Cabang Tolentino finished second in his 110m hurdles heat at 13.70 seconds to reach the finals.