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| The last hurdle Eric Cray has to clear for a ticket to Tokyo is about eight-hundredths of a second. (Photo from Inquirer PH) |
[Asia News Communication = Reporter Reakkana] The last hurdle Eric Cray has to clear for a ticket to Tokyo is about eight-hundredths of a second. For Natalie Uy, however, there is cause for concern. Six-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games champion and Asian titleist Cray touched base with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) to say his chances of making a second Olympic performance are good.
The Texas-based Cray told Patafa president Philip Ella Juico that his target is to make the finals of the men’s 400-meters, “and from thereon, anything can happen.” Born in Olongapo, Cray holds the SEA Games record of 48.98 seconds. He would need to breach 48.90 seconds, which is the Tokyo qualifying time for his event. He has at least 15 tournaments to meet the criteria before the cutoff on June 29.
Uy, the reigning SEA Games champ in women’s pole vault, is just recovering from a hand injury after a pole broke on her last September during practice. Patafa said she underwent surgery and is only now returning to training. But Patafa isn’t losing hope on Uy, who was given the green light to train last Dec. 30. So far, only Asian and SEA Games champion pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena is assured of a ticket to Tokyo for Philippine athletics, which is hoping to qualify at least four bets to the Summer Games.
