ERIC Cray leads a 23-man Philippine track and field squad that will see action in the 2nd Asian Athletics Championships from July 12 to 16 in Pattaya, Thailand, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association announced yesterday.
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who set a new Asian and national record of six meters in ruling the Bergen Jump Challenge in Bryggen Norway over the weekend, and the veteran Cray, 34, a gold medalist in his pet event in the Asian meet in 2017, loom as the country’s brightest gold medal prospects in the competition.
The four-day event serves as the qualifying meet for the world championships slated Aug. 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary.
Also in the men’s squad are Umajesty Williams, Michael Carlo del Prado, Frederick Ramirez, John Cabang, Janry Ubas, Clinton Kingsley Bautista, Joyme Sequita, Sonny Wagdos, Aries Toledo, Johnmike Lera Arlan Arbois, Ronnie Malipay and Filipino-American Willie Morrison III.
Tokyo Olympian and sprinter Kristina Knott, a double gold medalist in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games, leads the distaff side. With her are Maureen Schrijvers, Robyn Brown, Bernalyn Bejoy, Gennah Malapit, Joida Gagnao and Sarah Dequinan.
The coaching staff is composed of Jojo Posadas as the head coach, with Dario de Rosas, Danilo Fresnido, Eduardo Buenavista, Emerson Obiena, Isidro del Prado, Martin dela Fuente and Samantha Cray his deputies.
Respected Ukrainian mentor Vitaly Petrov, Obiena’s personal coach, is also going with the team.
