Eric Cray
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eric Shauwn Cray |
| Nationality | Filipino, American |
| Born |
November 11, 1988 Olongapo, Philippines |
| Height | 176 cm (5 ft 9 in) (2014) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) (2014) |
| Sport | |
| Country |
 Philippines |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) |
400 metres hurdles 100 metres 60 metres |
| Coached by |
Keith Sharper (2014)[1] Davian Clarke (2015) |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) |
|
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Eric Shauwn Brazas Cray (born November 11, 1988) is a Filipino American track and field athlete who competes in sprinting and hurdling events. He represented his country at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics, competing in the hurdles.[2] He won gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2013 and 2015. Cray currently holds the Filipino national record for the 400 metres hurdles and 100 metres.
Early life and education
Cray was born in Olongapo, before moving to Sacramento, California to Ellis Jr. and Maria Cray Fish. His mother is a Filipina maid working in the US, while his father is an American cab driver. He has three sisters.[3][1] He studied at the James Madison High School in San Antonio, Texas in the United States for his secondary education.[3] He has a degree in Education at Bethune-Cookman University and a master's degree in Human Relations at University of Oklahoma.[1]
Career
Cray took up track and field when he was still in high school,[1] competing for the James Madison High School at the district , regional and state championships. He also competed for the Bethune-Cookman University at the NCAA of the United States.[3]
He holds dual American-Filipino dual citizenship but decided to compete for the Philippines in December 2011 upon the request of his mother. The application to compete for the Philippines was approved in 2013 by the IAAF.[1]
He set a new national record and games record in the 400 m hurdles while winning at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games, setting a time of 49.40 seconds.[4][5] Cray managed to win a bronze at the 60 m event at the 2016 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.[6] While he only finished seventh in the 400 m hurdles semifinals at the 2016 Summer Olympics with a time of 49.37 seconds, which itself already broke his national and Southeast Asian Games record, he set a better record earlier during the Heat 4 qualifying event with a time of 49.05.
Cray won the gold medal at the 400 meter hurdles event at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships clocking 49.57 seconds ending his country's 8 year gold drought in the continental tournament.[7]
Personal life
In 2015, Cray reportedly has a fiancé and two children. His sisters are involved in sports; two were track and field athletes and one is a basketball coach, and another is a licensed cosmetologist. He considers American sprinter Michael Johnson as his hero in the sport.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Athletes_Profile | Biographies | Sports". incheon2014ag.org. Archived from the original on 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
- ↑ Eric Cray Honours. IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-06-10.
- 1 2 3 "Eric Cray". Oklahoma Sooner Sports. University of Oklahoma Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
- ↑ Eric Cray breaks hurdles record to cop another gold for PHL. GMANetwork (2015-06-10). Retrieved on 2015-06-10.
- ↑ Eric Cray breaks SEA Games record for 400m hurdles, wins gold. Rappler (2015-06-10). Retrieved on 2015-06-10.
- ↑ Terrado, Reuben (21 February 2016). "Eric Cray takes bronze medal in 60-meter dash in Asian Indoor Athletics Championship in Doha". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
- ↑ "Eric Cray wins gold in India tilt". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.