By Amy Tennery
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Hurdler Devon Allen is ready to turn Eugene pain into pride at the United States nationals this week, a year after a thousandth of a second cost him the chance of World Championship glory.
A source of fascination in the U.S., partly due to being a wide receiver in the practice squad for Super Bowl runners-up Philadelphia Eagles, Allen was expected to contend for the 100 metres hurdles world title but was disqualified for a false start.
“I try to forget about it,” Allen said after he posted the fourth-fastest time of the year to finish second at the NYC Grand Prix last month in 13.04 seconds.
“It’s like when you have a really bad, traumatic experience you, like, black out. I don’t even remember what happened – what are you talking about?”
The twice Olympian, who is third on the all-time list after running 12.84 last year, has his work cut out to reach the World Championships later this year in Budapest.
His key rival, back-to-back world champion Grant Holloway, has had no issues with a packed schedule as he won the second of two Diamond League titles this year with 12.98 in Paris.
“My fitness is not quite there in terms of just my signature finish,” Allen told reporters in New York. “Last four hurdles not really closing as I usually do … which is part of the reason I’m racing a lot.”
The U.S. nationals start on Thursday in Eugene, Oregon.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken Ferris)
