Eric Cray came up with his season’s best over the weekend as he stayed on the hunt for an Olympic qualifying berth.
This time, the 32-year-old Cray grabbed a gold medal in topping the men’s 400-meter hurdles of the Corky/Crofoot Shootout Athletics Meet at the Texas Tech University’s Terry and Linda Fuller Track and Field Complex in Lubbock, Texas.
The 5’9” Cray, coached by his wife Samantha and a father to two little daughters, clocked 50.84 to finish first for his best performance in 16 months.
Chris Robinson settled for the silver in 51.41 seconds, while Donte Irving ran in 53.18 seconds for the bronze.
The last time Cray clocked his fastest time was back in 2019 during the Southeast Asian Games, where he took the gold medal in 50.21 seconds.
His clocking, however, is still far from the national mark he set at 48.98 seconds in Madrid back in 2016.
Cray is trying to hit the Olympic Qualifying Standard of 48.90 seconds.
Two weeks ago, Cray finished fifth place in 51.2 seconds in the men’s 400-meter hurdles of the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.
“My biggest challenge now is I’m getting older, taking care of my body, and better than that, staying focused,” said Cray in a recent interview on Power and Play.
Meanwhile, Kristina Knott will be in Europe this week to be in the Meeting International Citta Di Savona on May 13.
The Meeting International Citta Di Savona is summer’s first scheduled European outdoor meet, where the best athletes in the region are expected to join.