Photo by Casey Weinstein ’13–Devon Allen leaps over a hurdle in the 110-meter varsity high hurdles race in the 2012 season. Allen took fifth in this event at the Rio Olympics. 

By Andrew Howard ’17
THE ROUNDUP

Brophy graduate Devon Allen ’13 placed fifth in the Olympic 110m hurdles final Aug. 17 with a time of 13.31 in Rio.

Allen, who ran track and played football at Brophy and continues to do both at the University of Oregon, qualified for the Olympics with a time of 13.03 in the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Allen credited Brophy for some of his success.

“(Brophy) prepared me to balance my academics and athletics to best set me up to train and be successful in sports,” he said in a Twitter interview with The Roundup.

Allen also said that knowing Brophy is watching encourages him.

“It feels good knowing I have a huge support system,” Allen said. “It makes me work harder knowing I want to make them proud.”

Track head coach Mr. Bill Kalkman agreed with Allen and said that he hoped Brophy’s support gave him a sense of purpose in the race and not added pressure.

“We are just really happy for him and his success,” he said.

Mr. Kalkman, who coached Allen at Brophy said he reached out to him after the race.

“My contact with him was just saying I loved watching him race and that we’re proud of him,” he said.

Allen, who is 21, is expected to continue hurdling and be a top competitor heading into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“If he focuses on track he has a chance at a gold medal,” Mr. Kalkman said.

The winner of the race was Omar Mcleod of Jamaica, who is 22 years old. He won in a time of 13.05, which is a slower time than Allen ran in the Olympic Trials.

Allen said that his main goal was to have fun and enjoy the experience in Rio.

“I’m most proud of being one of three current Oregon Ducks that made it to the Olympics,” he said. “It shows that the next generation of stars are rising up.”