by Larry Eder
Continental Tour Gold
Devon Allen runs 12.84! photo by Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
The global broadcast of the 2022 USATF NY Grand Prix had a stunning race. Grant Holloway, in his first 110m hurdle race this spring, and Devon Allen, having rested 10 days due to COVID, had been doing football practice Monday-Thursday and track workouts, Friday-Sunday. After a ten day break, Devon was rested and confident, and we had a race for the ages!
The men’s 110-meter hurdles is one of the most technical races in the sport. Ten hurdles in 110 meters mean that one has to hurdle, sprint, hurdle, sprint, and then sprint like a madman at the end of the race.
In the 110-meter hurdles, Grant Holloway got out well, with Devon Allen just behind him.
Continental Tour Gold
Devon Allen takes Grant Holloway in the NY Grand Prix 110m hurdles, 12.84-13.06, photo by Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
If one watches Grant Holloway, one sees that @Flamingoo_ as he is called via Twitter charges out and breaks the race open between hurdles one and five. Well, today, Devon Allen, who has a very good second part of the race, was close in the first five hurdles. Allen moved up on Holloways’ shoulder, and Devon Allen surged away over hurdles 7, 8, 9, and 10, taking the win and running a spectacular 12.84, a new PB and new World Leader. Grant Holloway opened his fastest 110m opener ever, going 13.06.
Due to this digital age, just as Devon Allen finished, his 12.84 was recognized as the #3 all-time best ever. This is a paradigm shift for Devon Allen, who has always been confident, and ran with that confidence, strength, and technique that had him battling Grant Holloway, the 2019 World Champ, 2022 World Indoor Champ, and 60m hurdle record holder as well.
Oh, and Grant Holloway has the #2 time on the all-time 110m hurdle list.
This should be a huge confidence boost for Devon Allen. He told the assembled media post-race, ” I have been working on football, Monday to Thursday, then track on Friday to Sunday.” Then, Devon Allen got COVID.
Devon was kind enough to chat with me in the stands post-race, so happy with his race and obviously relaxed after his best race ever. “I felt Grant next to me, but in watching the video, I saw that I was really ahead of him.” During an interview with Lewis Johnson, the icon of post race interviews, Devon noted he was flying to Europe for two races and then back to Eugene.
Grant Holloway, NY Grand Prix Presser, June 11, 2022, photo by Kevin Morris / @kevmofoto
“I had been working on my first five hurdles in practice, ” Devon told this writer. ” I have always had a pretty good last five hurdles. But that first five hurdles really helped in this race. ”
I interviewed Devon Allen a few months ago, this is his clip-on self-confidence: https://www.runblogrun.com/2022/04/socialing-the-distance-devon-allen-2x-olympian-4x-us-champion-nike-sponsored-athlete-philadelphia-ea.html.
Devon Allen moved to be with his hurdle coach from Oregon, who moved to the Naval Academy in Annapolis. Devon has been working hard, gaining confidence, and building his strength and skills for the American football team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Devon told the assembled media that he has been training for both sports each week, Monday-Thursday for American football, and on Friday-Sunday, Devon practiced for the hurdles.
The two-time Olympic finalist really upped his game and challenged Grant Holloway, in 2019, defending World Champion in this race.
After the race, as we walked to the event bus, Grant Holloway complimented Devon Allen on his race, fitness, and how an in-form Devon Allen would make the race in Eugene even faster. (You can check out our interview of Grant from 2021 right here: https://www.runblogrun.com/2021/10/socialing-the-distance-with-larry-eder-featuring-grant-holloway-110m-hurdle-indoor-world-record-hold.html.
This race was one for the ages. Grant Holloway, getting into racing shape, was a little surprised by Devon’s amazing race. On the way to the athlete bus, Grant, who has a bye due to his World Outdoor gold, will be racing ALL three rounds in the 110m hurdles in Eugene ( note that Noah Lyles is doing the exact same thing).
What does this tell you about Grant Holloway and Devon Allen?
These two men will collide in Eugene to battle for the USATF Championships and, more than likely, battle again in Eugene for the World Championships title.
Devon Allen has a new and improved confidence, and Grant Holloway is racing himself into shape.
At the end of the day, Devon Allen should see this as a confirmation of his move to the East Coast, his change in training regimens and venues, and that he is in fantastic shape and should only be fitter when he comes back from two races in Europe to head to Eugene.
Grant Holloway had a good opening race, and he does not like being beat by anyone, and he will be ready for the upcoming hurdle battles.
If you think the race at Icahn Stadium on June 12, 2022, was exciting, wait until you see the rounds at the USATF Champs (June 23-26) and at the World Champs (July 14-25).
