Fil-American sprinter Eric Cray could join the country’s top pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena in the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The 34-year-old Cray is now no. 49 in the World Athletics rankings after joining the Ed Murphy Classic over the weekend at the Wolfe Track and Field Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.
Cray finished 5th with a clocking of 50.24 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, thereby boosting his ranking points.
Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association secretary-general Edward Kho said Cray can join the world meet once he breaches the top 40 rankings.
Cray has been earning points since joining the Asian Championships in Bangkok, the #True Athletes Classic in Leverkeusen.
Obiena, who has dropped to world no. 3 this week, is already a sure entry in the world meet.
Christopher Nilsen of the United States has returned to the no. 2 spot after performing his best jump of the season two weeks ago.
That was when Nilsen beat world Obiena and Armand “Mondo” Duplantis in the Monaco Diamond League.
Nilsen, who is in a rivalry for the no. 2 position with Obiena, cleared 5.92 meters for the gold medal, with Duplantis of Sweden settling for fourth at 5.72 meters.
The American is slightly ahead of Obiena with 1401 points.
Obiena is two points behind with 1399 points, while Duplantis is far ahead with 1500 points.