Oregon WR Devon Allen hopes to be ready for Olympic run after surgery
Oregon Ducks wide receiver Devon Allen expects to be fully ready to rejoin the Ducks’ track and field season and make a run for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, reports Ryan Thorburn of The Register-Guard.
“Hopefully I run well enough to get in the mix,” Allen said. “By that time, I’ll be almost a year and a half out from surgery, so I’ll be good to go.”
Allen, 21, won the 2014 NCAA and U.S. national title in the 110-meter hurdles in 2014—a year without a global track and field championship. He sustained a torn ACL injury in last year’s College Football Playoff win over Florida State.
He did not compete in the 2015 outdoor track and field season as he nursed the injury, and potentially missed a chance to qualify for this past summer’s world track and field championships.
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Allen will have to finish in the top three of the U.S. Olympic Trials next July in Eugene, Ore. in order to qualify for the Olympics. His personal best of 13.16 was the third fastest among all Americans in 2014.
Allen has nine receptions for 49 yards with no touchdowns in his comeback football season as the No. 15 Ducks prepare to face No. 11 TCU on Jan. 2 in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. In his freshman year, Allen caught 41 passes for 684 yards and seven touchdowns.
Track and field in Rio will run from Aug. 13 to 21 with the men’s 110-meter hurdle final schedule on Aug. 16. The Ducks will open the 2016 football season at home against UC Davis on Sept. 3.
- Christopher Chavez
