Eric Cray is doing everything to stay healthy and competitive enough to get a spot in the Paris Olympics next year.
The Filipino-American speedster said keeping his body in shape is his priority as he wants to hit the 48.7-second qualifying time for the men’s 400-meter hurdles for the 2024 Summer Games, starting at the Asian Athletics Championships in Pattaya, Thailand from 12 to 16 July.
Cray was still able to win his sixth straight SEA Games gold medal in the same event with a clocking of 50.03 seconds despite a nagging sports hernia injury.
“Just staying healthy. I know I am capable of running faster. Like I said, it’s just injuries and that’s the main thing I have been focusing on,” Cray said in a radio interview.
“So it’s just about taking care of my body moving forward and I know I will be able to hit the time. I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to hit the time in the Asian Championships.”
Apart from the Asian Championships, Cray is also slated to compete in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China from 23 September to 8 October.
Cray is also not taking the upcoming Asiad lightly as he wants to take home a medal there.
“That’s my main goal: to bring home the Asian Games gold. Now, until then is the main build-up for that. That’s the main focus,” Cray said.
