Devon Allen inching closer to his childhood dreams
by Richard Obert - May. 9, 2012
The Republic | azcentral.com
Devon Allen just blew away the field in the 110-meter high hurdles for a state record that hadn't been touched since 1980, but you couldn't tell by his expression.
The Phoenix Brophy Prep junior shrugged off his time of 13.58 seconds at the Chandler Rotary Invitational in March, believing he could have gone faster if not for a couple of technical errors.
Always the perfectionist and competitor, the 6-1, 190-pounder, one of the nation's most sought after wide receivers for the class of 2013 by college football coaches, unleashed his competitive juices a few weeks later at the Arcadia Invitational in southern California with a performance for the ages.
Allen broke his own state record in the 110 high hurdles, turning in a 13.52. He later broke the state record in the 300 hurdles with a winning time of 36.39 seconds. He won the 200 in a state-best 21.10 seconds.
He helped Brophy's 4x100 relay team win. The previous night, Allen anchored Brophy's winning shuttle relay. Allen was chosen the nation's most prestigious high school track invitation's top male performer.
Afterwards, Allen said he had about 20 college football coaches congratulating him on Facebook.
In his usual non-flair, Allen said, "It went well. I won the events I wanted to win. I think I can go faster in those events."
We'll see, starting Wednesday when Allen will be entered in the two hurdles and the 100 and 200 dashes. The dashes will be the Division I state track and field championships' most intriguing races with Glendale Deer Valley senior Trae Armstrong the reigning champion in those events.
Finals are Saturday at Mesa Community College.
"I'm still getting my technique down," Allen said about a month ago. "I've been working on the upper body part of the technique. Once I get my legs into it in the hurdles...I'm excited about it."
Allen only began competing in the hurdles last year when Brophy hurdles coach Tim O'Neil talked him into it.
"He works his fanny off," O'Neil said. "I know what to expect, then he'll run a race and the time will be what I'm looking for, and technically we're not there.
"He picks up things really quick. He's very coachable. Throughout my career at Brophy, I've have some good athletes. Devon is in the limelight now."
The more records Allen sets on the track, the greater the athletic cross-roads becomes for the student-athlete who is as determined to be perfect in the classroom as he is on the football field and on the track.
Allen is closing in on U.S. Olympic trials qualifying time in the hurdles. He knows the hurdles rise after high school to 42 inches. He trains on the high ones to improve his flexibility.
This is a big summer for Allen, who is being pulled in two sports. Arizona State and Arizona have offered, along with more than 15 others major colleges, including
Ohio State (his father Lou's college) and Notre Dame.
cont...
Love Circle K too btw...most underrated OSU QB ever I think. 
