MANILA, Philippines – Hinirang si Fil-Am hurdler Eric Cray bilang unang atletang Pinoy na nakasikwat ng tiket para sa 2016 Olympics matapos makuha ang Olympic-qualifying standard sa katatapos na Cayman Invitational Athletics.
Nagsumite si Cray ng bilis na 49.12 segundo sa men’s 400-meter hurdles para makapasa sa Olympic qualifying mark na 49.40 segundo na itinakda ng International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).
“We’re still trying to verify, but since he hit the Olympic qualifying mark, it seems that he will be our first athlete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016,” wika ni PATAFA secretary-general Renato Unso.
Kapag pormal nang naberipika, ito ang unang pagkakataon na magkakaroon ang bansa ng atleta na nakapasa sa Olympic qualifying standard sa track and field.
“Before kasi puro token delegates lang tayo. But now, we’re sending a player who really surpassed the qualifying mark. That is quite an impressive achievement for us,” ani Unso, ang unang national record holder sa nasabing event (51.26 segundo noong 1983 SEAG).
Source: Olmin Leyba of Philippine Star
