Devon Allen looks to dominate at Penn Relays

The multi-sport athlete will be defending last year's victory in the men’s 110-meter hurdles

One of the most famous track and field competitions will be starting on Thursday, April 27. Featuring teams and competitors of all ages from across the country, Penn Relays will be as exciting as ever, especially with some top-tier talent competing this year.

Devon Allen, a former Olympian and NCAA star, will be competing this year in the men’s 110-meter hurdles. Allen is no stranger to this event, having won three United States national championships in 2014 and 2018, as well as at the 2016 Olympic Trials. He also won NCAA championships in 2014 and 2016 in the same event.

What makes Allen even more intriguing is his status as a dual-sport athlete. While at the University of Oregon, Allen played wide receiver for the Ducks' football team in addition to being on the track and field team. In his first year as a wide receiver, he caught 41 passes for 684 yards and seven touchdowns. And in April 2022, Allen signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. After spending training camp with the team, Allen was on the practice squad for much of the regular season but re-signed with the Eagles for next season in February.

“I think, you know, a year on the practice squad gave me some time to develop … contributing a lot more and be able to make plays and help,” Allen said. He also explained how he’s preparing as a professional in two demanding sports. “I mean, the last eight weeks, I've been mostly focused on getting back into track shape, and sprinting.”

Unfortunately for Allen, he will have a quick turnaround as preparation for the NFL season will begin “starting Monday. I'll be back in [Philadelphia] for [the] off-season [program], training for OTAs and so kind of doing the dual sport thing that I did all of last season even leading up into world champs … I did pretty well last year, still competing well and fast.”

Allen is the clear favorite for the Olympic Development men's 110m hurdles and will have a plethora of support in the stands including some of his Eagles teammates.

“This year, especially with OTAs starting this week and most of my teammates being in town, a lot of them have already texted me saying … we're gonna come out,” he said.

The Olympic Development men’s 110m hurdles elite will take place around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, which is the final day of competition. The event, as well as the rest of the Penn Relays, will be broadcast on NBC Sports Philadelphia and FloSports.

“I just look forward to that atmosphere again and hopefully put a show on for my teammates so they can see what I do in person,” Allen said.

ASHIL SRIVASTAVA Sports Associate

Five men's Quakers to look out for at this year's Penn Relays

Several members of the team, who have neared program records and won events, are set to compete

CALEB CRAIN

Sports Editor

As the hosts of Penn Relays, the Quakers' track and field program is sending a large force to represent the Red and Blue this year — despite the event occurring just one week before the 2023 Ivy League Outdoor Heptagonal Championships. Here are five Penn men's athletes to look out for at Franklin Field this weekend.

Devante Heywood (Sprints/Relays)

Despite being just a freshman, Heywood is already making a mark on the Penn program. At Penn Relays, he will appear in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400m relay events. But throughout much of the individual season, he has shined in multiple sprint events. At the Big 5 Invitational earlier this month, the Trelawny, Jamaica native won the 200m dash with a time of 21.43. At the Transatlantic Series just a slightly over a week ago, Heywood finished third overall — and eighth in program history — with a 47.32 finish in the 400m. At the same competition, Heywood was part of a winning 4x400m team and a 4x100m relay team that finished second at the event, but sixth in program history.

Another freshman set to make an impact for the Quakers at the Relays is hurdler Shane Gardner. He will compete in the 110m hurdles — an event he won at the Big 5 Invitational with a time of 14.37. He followed that up two weeks later with a 13.99, good enough for second place at the Transatlantic Series. Gardner is also coming into the Relays red-hot as last weekend he completed a performance good for 10th in program history at the Virginia Challenge, even though he finished fifth in that event.

Olatide Abinusawa (Shot Put)

Luke Johnson (Steeplechase)

Another Quaker appearing at the Relays is sophomore distance runner Luke Johnson, who will be competing in the 3,000m steeplechase. Recently, Johnson finished first in the 2,000m version of the event at the Big 5 Invitational. During the indoor season, he placed 10th in the mile at the Rutgers Open. However, his real shining performance this year came during the fall’s cross country season when he came close to a program record with a five-mile time of 25:13.7 at Ivy Heps. Now back to competing in longer races, he is certainly set up for success at the Relays.

Switching from the track to the field, sophomore jumper James Rhoads will be one of four athletes competing in the Red and Blue in the pole vault. For much of this month, he has been on a tear — beginning with a victory at the Big 5 Invitational after clearing 5.16m. He has kept improving in recent competitions as well, notching a score of 5.25m at the Duke Invitational. His 5.36m performance at the Transatlantic Series just over one week ago was good enough for third in program history.

One last Penn athlete to keep an eye on is thrower Olatide Abinusawa, who will be competing in the shot put. In several of his most recent meets, the senior has had consistent 16m-plus throws, and impressive podium finishes. He finished second in the Widener Invitational, Transatlantic Series, and Big 5 Invitational. At the latter, his 16.73m throw stands as one of the best of his Quaker career.