Olympic hurdler Devon Allen has accomplished a lot in his professional career: three USATF National titles in the 110m hurdles, top-five finishes at both the Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games and is only the 13th American ever to break the 13-second barrier in the event. This spring, he added another accomplishment to that list: professional football player. In April, Allen made it clear that he was planning a return to football at the conclusion of this year's track season. One pro day and a 4.35 40-yard dash later, and Allen was the newest Philadelphia Eagle by way of a three-year contract; but before he embarks on his newest professional journey, Allen has unfinished business on the track. “I’d like to have a global medal by now, especially with how fast I’ve run and how consistently I’ve been running fast for the last eight years,” Allen said. As a University of Oregon alum, this year's World Athletics Championships present a unique opportunity for Allen - the chance to not only win a global medal, but to do it in front of his home fans at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. All former Ducks are beloved by the TrackTown crowd, but there is no doubt that Allen is amongst the most renowned. Allen’s ties to the city of Eugene go back to 2014, when he won his first NCAA title in the 110m hurdles as a true freshman. By the time he signed his professional track and field contract in 2017, Allen was a three-time national champion, three-time PAC-12 champion, Rio Olympic finalist, and one of the fastest hurdlers in the history of the NCAA. On top of all his accomplishments on the track, Allen spent his fall semesters as a member of the Oregon football team, even leading the team in receiving touchdowns as a true freshman - his only healthy football season for the Ducks. In appreciation of all that he accomplished as a multi-sport athlete for the Ducks, the name Devon Allen will always invoke an impassioned response from the Hayward-faithful. “No matter who’s in the heat with me, I always get the loudest roar,” Allen said. “I’ve run with Olympic champs and world record holders, but whenever they say, ‘Devon Allen of University of Oregon’ the crowd always goes wild. I’ll always love running there for that reason.” For Allen, the prospect of competing for his first World title in front of those very fans is exciting, not only from an individual perspective but also as a fan of the sport. The 2022 World Athletics Championships will be the first to ever take place on American soil, and Allen believes that Hayward is the perfect place for a global track event. “I can just imagine how good of a job that everyone in Eugene will do to make Worlds a spectacle,” Allen said “It’s already incredible, but with the World Championships there it is going to be the eighth wonder of the world.” Many track fans have wondered what motivated the 27-year-old’s decision to switch from a full-time professional track athlete to take a chance at a career in professional football, but a return to the gridiron was always the plan. Allen planned to play a big role for the Ducks after returning from the Rio Olympics in 2016, but a torn ACL in the third game of the season sidelined him for the remainder of his college eligibility. “I already had a bad taste in my mouth from the results of the Olympics and now being hurt was really frustrating,” Allen said. “I had time to contemplate and decided to take a few years to give my full focus on track and try to become an Olympic or World champion. I originally gave myself four years but then the pandemic turned it into five but I had always decided that post-Olympics, I was going to return to football and play in the NFL.” For all the excitement that awaits Devon Allen in his future, what he has been able to do in the 2022 season may be the best of his renowned career. Allen holds the world lead in the 110m hurdles at 12.84 - just .01 second off the world record - and placed third at the U.S. Championships on June 26 to solidify his spot on the Team USATF roster for the 2022 World Athletics Championships. In what has already been a career year, Allen looks to finally earn the global medal he’s been working towards and step into his professional football career as a made man in two professional sports. “I think there is a sense of urgency. This is a great opportunity to do something great for my track career. This is a great opportunity for me to win something very important to me and be a World Champion in Eugene at my home track and get to stand on top of that podium in front of my home fans and my family.” Not many people get the opportunity to compete at the world championships of their sport in front of the crowd that watched them emerge to stardom as a collegiate athlete. Even fewer knock on the door of a world record and make five consecutive U.S. outdoor teams. Only Devon Allen has done all of that and signed an NFL contract in the heart of his athletic prime. Most people can only dream of accomplishing a fraction of these accolades, but Devon has made a career of making those dreams a reality. Written by Adam Cortez