PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Hounded by injuries, veteran Eric Cray is not ruling out a stint in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in 2025.
“If God keeps me running fast enough to compete, who knows? Maybe seventh,” Cray said moments after winning the men’s 400-meter hurdles for the sixth time on Thursday.
The 34-year-old warrior said he’s happy to come out on top again.
“It feels great. I had an injury in the Asian Indoor (Championship). We were concerned about coming in. Had to pull out in the relays. But I feel really good,” said Cray who now has eight gold medals in six Games appearances.
“There were ups and downs. It was hard. But God has been on my side the whole and I’m so happy that I can keep going.”
Cray said he’s setting his sights on winning on the Asian level — the Asian Athletics Championships in Pattaya, India in July and the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in September.
Injuries have marked Cray’s career.
He came into the biennial meet, with a sports hernia injury, a strain or tear of any soft tissue in the groin area.
But that has not affected his appetite.
He won his first gold medal in the 2013 Games in Naypyidaw, Myanmar.
The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympian has only won one gold in the Asian Athletics Championships back in 2017 in India.
Cray said he is confident, saying his training regimen made sure he will be at his best in both Asian tourneys.
“We changed our training to get ready for the Asian Championships and the Asian Games. I’m right on pace,” Cray said.
“I’m feeling great, ready for the Asian championships and the Asian Games.”
