by RBR Admin
Devon Allen, from Eugene to Rio, to Eugene, photo by PhotoRun.net
In our daily social media column, Kylee O’Connor did Day six, and wrote this piece on Devon Allen, who will return to Eugene, Oregon, after his debut in the Olympics at the 110m hurdles. But now, it is time for football, where fans and team were both supportive!
Fellow Ducks Flocked to Twitter to Celebrate Devon Allen’s Fifth Place Finish in the Olympic 110-meter Hurdles
by Kylee O’Connor
Teammates of Devon Allen flocked to Twitter to congratulate him on his fifth place finish in the Olympic 110-meter hurdles on Tuesday.
Allen ran 13.31 seconds to capture fifth place in his Olympic final debut. During the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials, Allen ran 13.03 to grasp the title of U.S. Champion for the second time, but was unable to unleash a performance near that throughout his Olympic rounds. In sixth place, right behind Allen, was Allen’s training partner and former Oregon Duck Johnathan Cabral.
While the rest of Allen’s fellow track and field Olympians have a while to go until next track season, Allen has another season to prepare for: football season.
Allen, a redshirt junior at the University of Oregon, is not only an elite track and field athlete, but is also a wide receiver on the Oregon Duck football team. It was just around a year and a half ago that he tore his ACL in the Rose Bowl, forcing him to redshirt a year.
Allen has come a long way since that disastrous injury. He was given the OK to miss Oregon Fall football camp by his coach, Mark Helfrich. Helfrich, along with his Oregon teammates, were very supportive in Allen’s quest for gold. The team gathered to watch each of his qualifying rounds.
When football and the #Olympics collide.
Oregon football watches teammate @DevonAllen13 race in the 110m hurdles. pic.twitter.com/MqoTepnIIK
— NFLonNBC (@SNFonNBC) August 17, 2016
Can you tell we were all excited for Devon 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZitO0fetrs
— Tyrell Crosby (@Tyrellcrosby) August 16, 2016
Now that Allen’s track season has officially ended, he can look forward to utilizing his unmatchable speed throughout the football season.
@chansen_RG @OregonMBB Good decision.
— Rich (@richduck77) August 17, 2016
Others throughout the college football community were eager to wish Allen congratulations.
Congrats @DevonAllen13 on representing our country well. Your college football fam is so proud of you!
— Sam Steele Ponder (@sam_ponder) August 17, 2016
Many of his teammates were the first to send out a congratulatory tweet, including quarterback Travis Jonsen and receiver Charles Nelson.
Proud of my boy @DevonAllen13 !!! Always #1 to me!
— Travis Jonsen (@travisjonsen11) August 17, 2016
Proud of my boy @DevonAllen13
— charles nelson (@ChuckTooraw) August 17, 2016
Whether the fifth-place finish was below Allen’s ultimate goal or not, the pure feat of making it to the Olympics is an accomplishment for the 21-year-old and an experience that he will never forget. Now one question remains: will Allen go pro and forego his potential NCAA track eligibility or continue to compete as an Oregon Duck? Either way, he is definitely a favorite to make Tokyo 2020.
What a Day! Best experience I’ve had! #RioDucks #Rio2016 #scoducks #GoTeamUSA
— Devon Allen (@DevonAllen13) August 17, 2016
