Except for a single, barely perceptible flinch, this would’ve been a Perfect 10 for the US track and field team. As it ended up, the Americans still won nine medals on home turf on Sunday at the world championships in what will go down as one of the most memorable days for the red, white and blue in its long, successful history.
It was the best single medal day for a nation at the worlds, according to organizers. Devon Allen’s false start kept the US from a possible sweep in the 110m hurdles final and what could’ve been the 10th medal of the day.
He will now take his talents to the NFL, where he’ll attempt to make the roster for the Philadelphia Eagles. It was hardly the way he wanted to finish at worlds. “Track and field is so difficult because you train the whole year for one competition that lasts 12, 13 seconds and that’s that,” said the 27-year-old, whose training camp with the Eagles starts on 26 July. “I’ll learn from it and I’ll make sure I just react not as fast next time.” Allen’s disappointment hardly spoiled a day in which the recording of the Star-Spangled Banner got worn out.
It began with the hammer throw, where Brooke Andersen took gold and Janee’ Kassanavoid won bronze. That was a warmup act for the night session, where seven medals piled up in a span of 10 minutes.