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Asian Games: Philippine track and field team looks to end 24-year medal drought

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/08/21/20180824-track-and-field.jpg"/><figcaption>Eric Cray will compete in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay in the 2018 Asian Games. File/PSC media pool</figcaption></figure></div>JAKARTA—A prepared and confident Philippine national athletics team — led by sprinter Eric Shauwn Cray and pole vaulter EJ Obiena — takes the track and field in the 2018 Asian Games at Gelora Bung Karno Main Complex here on Saturday.Cray and Obiena, both coming off impressive performances in recent Asian tournaments, have the best chances of giving the country a medal in these Games, but Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Juico is hopeful that others on the team can deliver.The last athletics’ medal captured by the Philippines in the Asian Games came in 1994 courtesy of long-jumper Elma Muros. “If everything goes right, like timing, pacing, many of our athletes like even (triple-jumper) Harry Diones and (long-jumper) Janry Ubas, can also spring some surprises,” Juico said.Reigning Southeast Asian Games decathlon champion Aries Toledo opens the Filipinos&#x27; bid in the 100 meters at 10 a.m. before competing in long jump at 10:45 a.m. and shot put at noon. He winds up his busy day with the high jump at 6:50 p.m. and the 400 meters at 9:30 p.m.Ubas, a bronze winner in long jump in the 2017 SEA Games, tries to qualify for the finals of the same event here at 6:50 p.m.What excites the PATAFA is the association’s newest find, Kristina Marie Knott.The US-based Filipina, a Creative Writing student at University of Miami, runs in the 100-meter heats at 6:30 p.m. In the coming days, Cray, who is coming off a gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles in the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships and a silver in the 60-meter run in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, races in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay with Trenton Beram, Anferenee Lopena and Clinton Bautista.Beram is also competing in the 800 meters, while Bautista is rostered in the 110-meter hurdles.Obiena, the pole vault favorite in the SEA Games before he was sidelined by an ACL tear, is now fully recovered. He competes in the pole vault on Wednesday.Marco Vilog is the Philippines’ bet in the 800 meters, while Francis Medina takes part in the 400-m hurdles.Mary Joy Tabal, who has been training in Tuscany for several months, competes in marathon Sunday, while Marestella Sunang makes what could be her last hurrah in the Asian Games in triple jump on Monday.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Sprinter Eric Shauwn Cray and pole vaulter EJ Obiena are part of the national athletics team eyeing a top-3 finish in Jakarta.

Sprinter Eric Shauwn Cray and pole vaulter EJ Obiena are part of the national athletics team eyeing a top-3 finish in Jakarta.