PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Olympian Eric Cray blazed the trail on his way to a sixth straight Southeast Asian Games gold medal in the men’s 400-meter hurdles to anchor the Philippines’ medal drive Thursday, May 11, in the 32^nd edition of the biennial meet here.

Eric Cray (File photo)

The 34-year-old veteran torched the field and clocked 50.03 seconds to reaffirm his supremacy in the event, which he first won in the 2013 edition in Myanmar.

“It feels great (to win), man,” said Cray, who competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

“I had an injury in the Asian Indoor Championships. It’s definitely a concern coming in, but we changed a lot on my training so I’m right on pace.”

Thailand’s Natthapon Dansungnoen finished silver in 50.73sec, while Singapore’s Calvin Ouek Jun Jie came in bronze in 50.75sec.

Despite bucking sports hernia that has been lingering for the last two months, Cray still topped the morning heats with 52.73sec before improving his time en route to the finals.

“I’m happy it was hot because it kinda helps the pain down there. I just really had to work on it, stay conscious of it,” he said.

It was the third gold medal for athletics following EJ Obiena in men’s pole vault and Janry Ubas in men’s long jump.

Cray resumes his bid for the gold medal when he competes in the century dash Friday, May 12, along with Kristina Knott in the distaff side.

He will race in the morning heats with hopes of advancing to the afternoon finals as he not only guns for a repeat golden performance in the 2015 Singapore edition, but also to reset his own national record of 10.25sec.