American athletics sensation Devon Allen was left fuming after he was disqualified for jumping the start in the 110m hurdles by just one-thousandth of a second.
It was a controversial disqualification at the world athletics championships in Eugene, Oregon that left fans in the stands and online in anger and disappointment.
Runners aren’t permitted to jump the gun within .1 second of the gun sounding, leaving Allen in heartbreak after he was detected starting at 0.099.
Disqualified by just .001 second, how unlucky for the lad.
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The infringement was pretty much undetectable by the human eye and as such was detected by a digital starting block.
The American pleaded his case to no avail.
Footage showed that while he reacted just before the gun was shot he didn’t move from his starting position until after the gun - meaning he was disqualified for reacting too quick.
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He later commented on the disqualification, saying: “Track and field is so difficult because you train the whole year for one competition that lasts 12, 13 seconds and that’s that.
“I’ll learn from it and I’ll make sure I just react not as fast next time.”
His disappointment was not only reflected in the stands, where boos rang out upon confirmation of Allen’s disqualification, but also by athletics fans on social media.
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Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III tweeted: “Devon Allen SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED. He didn’t jump the gun. He didn’t flinch. He got punished for being TOO FAST. Watch for yourself.”
Another fan tweeted: “If I weren’t a track and field enthusiast, and I just happened to tune into the world championships, I would have changed the channel after watching what just happened to Devon Allen. What an embarrassment to the sport.”
Another said: “So Devon Allen’s last two reaction times were 0.101 and 0.099. Maybe he was too good for the sport indeed.”
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Allen will be leaving the athletics world in disappointment as he takes his talents to the NFL having been recently signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Allen played wide receiver at Oregon College from 2014 to 2016 whilst he was simultaneously being awarded US national champion status.
His blistering pace has certainly helped get him a shot in the NFL after the Eagles were impressed with a 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds at Oregon’s pro day.
Topics: Athletics, United States, Australia
Jayden Collins