Eric Shauwn Brazas Cray (born November 6, 1988) is a Filipino-American track and field athlete who competes in

sprinting Sprinting is running over a short distance at the top-most speed of the body in a limited period of time. It is used in many sports that incorporate running, typically as a way of quickly reaching a target or goal, or avoiding or catching an op ...

and hurdling events. He represented the Philippines at the

2013 World Championships in Athletics The 14th IAAF World Championships in Athletics (Moscow 2013) () was an international athletics competition held in Moscow, Russia, from 10–18 August 2013. Initially, Russia won the most gold medals to top the table for the first time since 200 ...

, competing in the hurdles. He won gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Cray currently holds the Filipino national record for the

400 metres hurdles The 400 metres hurdles is a track and field hurdling event. The event has been on the Olympic athletics programme since 1900 for men and since 1984 for women. On a standard outdoor track, 400 metres is the length of the inside lane, once a ...

and

100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...

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 caregiver working in the U.S., while his father is an American cab driver. He has three sisters. He studied at James Madison High School in San Antonio, Texas in the United States for his secondary education. He has a degree in Education at Bethune–Cookman University and a master's degree in Human Relations at University of Oklahoma.

Career

Cray took up track and field when he was still in high school, 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. 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. He set a new national record and games record in the 400 m hurdles while winning at the

2015 Southeast Asian Games The 2015 Southeast Asian Games ( ms, Sukan Asia Tenggara 2015; ; ta, 2015 தென்கிழக்கு ஆசிய விளையாட்டுப் போட்டிகள்), officially known as the 28th Southeast Asian Games, or ...

, setting a time of 49.40 seconds. Cray managed to win a bronze at the 60 m event at the

2016 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships The 2016 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships was the seventh edition of the international indoor athletics event between Asian nations. It took place at the Aspire Dome in Doha, Qatar, between 19 and 21 February. Three new women's Asian indoor r ...

. While he only finished seventh in the 400 m hurdles semifinals at the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics ( pt, Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 2016), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad ( pt, Jogos da XXXI Olimpíada) and also known as Rio 2016, was an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 20 ...

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 The 2017 Asian Athletics Championships was the 22nd edition of the Asian Athletics Championships. It was held from 6 to 9 July 2017 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. Bhubaneswar was the third Indian city to host Asian Championships. ...

clocking 49.57 seconds ending his country's 8 year gold drought in the continental tournament. Cray took the silver in the 60m Dash at the 2017 Asian Indoor Games in Asghartan, Turkmenistan. At the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, Cray had a poor opening to his campaign after he was disqualified in the 100 meter run after two false starts. However he redeemed himself after winning the gold medal in the 400 meter hurdles and the helped in clinching the gold for his country in the mixed-gender 4x100 relay event.

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.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cray, Eric Shauwn 1988 births Living people Sportspeople from Olongapo Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Olympics Filipino male hurdlers Filipino male sprinters World Athletics Championships athletes for the Philippines Filipino people of African-American descent Bethune–Cookman University alumni Olympic track and field athletes for the Philippines SEA Games medalists in athletics University of Oklahoma alumni SEA Games gold medalists for the Philippines SEA Games silver medalists for the Philippines SEA Games bronze medalists for the Philippines Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Asian Games Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Asian Games Asian Games competitors for the Philippines Competitors at the 2013 SEA Games Competitors at the 2015 SEA Games Competitors at the 2017 SEA Games Competitors at the 2019 SEA Games Competitors at the 2021 SEA Games Competitors at the 2023 SEA Games