Filipino-American hurdler Eric Cray wound up seventh out of nine participants in the heats of the men’s 400-meters on the second day of hostilities in the 2023 World Athletics Center in Budapest, Hungary.
An eight-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, the 34-year-old Cray clocked a dismal 50.27 seconds to miss the cut for the semifinal stage.
Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands led the way with a time of 48.47 seconds in Heat No. 2.
Estonian Rasmus Magi placed second after submitting a clocking of 48.58 while Trevor Bassitt of the United States finished third with a 48.47.
Wiseman Mukhobe of Angola completed the batch’s cast of semifinalist with a 49.10.
Cray needed to clock 48.70 to earn an automatic slot to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Still, Cray can still make it as he continues to earn ranking points.
His best time in the event is 48.98 but he posted it seven years ago in Madrid.
Despite the setback, the Philippines can still medal.
Also entered in the trackfest are fellow Fil-Am hurdler Robyn Brown and world No. 2 pole vaulter, the Italy-based EJ Obiena.
Brown, whowon the gold in the Asian championships last July in Pattaya, Thailand, is set to compete on Tuesday.
Brown has to time at least 54.85 seconds to make the grade for Paris.
But focus will be on Obiena, who placed third overall in the last worlds took place in Eugene, Oregon, last year.
As for Obiena, he will be competing on 23 August with world record holder Armand Duplantis as heavy favorite and Christopher Nilse, now rated No. 3, also in contention for the top spot.
Obiena is not actually shooting for an Olympic ticket since he had already done so in early-July in the Diamond League in Stockholm, Sweden.
Obiena settled for runnerup honors with a 5.82 meter vault to Duplantis, who soared to 6.05.
