KUALA LUMPUR — Filipino-American Eric Shawn Cray arrived here after long hours of flight from the U.S. but still appeared ready to defend his titles in the men’s 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles in the athletics competition of the 29th Southeast Asian Games at the National Stadium inside the sprawling KL Sports City here.
On Sunday, Cray sets out for practice.
Except for his competitors, there seemed to be no other major obstacles except that the tight schedules of his events pose a tremendous challenge on his stamina.
Cray is not giving up either of the titles as the two-time Olympian and record-holder in the century dash, take on comers in his two events that will be played less than an hour apart.
His schedule begins at 3:10 p.m. with the start of the 100-meter heats followed by the 400-meter low hurdle preliminaries at 4 p.m.
Assuming everything goes according to plan, Cray will be on the starting block in the finals of the 400 at 8:20 p.m. and the 100 at 9:40 p.m., respectively.
“I’ll go for both. I’m not gonna hold off. I’ll go out there to win the gold,” said Cray, who is facing a very good fight in the 100-meter run from a rising Malaysian sprinter.
Through national team chef de mission Cynthia Carrion, Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) president Philip Ella Juico appealed to the Malaysian SEA Games organizers as early as June regarding the schedule of both events on the same day.
In the original schedule, the gap between the prelims of both events was merely 30 minutes and the finals of 400 hurdles and 100-meter in succession only had a 20-minute gap separating them.
“We strongly believe that this schedule, with all due respect, is inimical to the optimum performance and safety of the athletes who will see action in both events,” Juico wrote.
