The 2022 World Athletics Championships are certainly living up to the hype, with nail-biting races keeping spectators on the edge of their seats. Records are under threat as athletes are putting their all into claiming the crown.
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But the event hasn?t been without its hiccups. The visa issues that restricted athletes from reaching the venue in time was a rocky start for the championships. Now, a false start dispute has kept the fastest 110m hurdles runner from competing.
Devon Allen disqualified from the race because of a false start
In Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver and fastest man in the 110m hurdles, Devon Allen,?reacted 0.001 seconds faster than the 0.1-second threshold. But that negligible margin was enough for the computer to mark it as a false start and disqualify him from the race.
After taking the semifinal in 13.09 seconds and?posting?the third-fastest 110m hurdle time last month (12.84), the 3-time national champion was a lock for the podium. Instead, his appeals to officials bore no fruit, and he had to watch his compatriots Grant Holloway and Trey Cunningham make a 1-2 finish.
“When I was flagged, I was very surprised. That was also part of the frustration because I know for a fact I didn’t react until I heard the gun. To be 1/1000th too quick – I know I’m quick but that kind of sucks.” – @DevonAllen13 explains his DQ
More ➡️ https://t.co/baillv0b9U pic.twitter.com/uc6NiwFsMl
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) July 18, 2022
Allen spoke to the reporters after the race, reiterating that he hadn?t reacted before he heard the gun. He was just fast.??When I was flagged, I was very surprised. That was also part of the frustration because I know for a fact I didn?t react until I heard the gun,? he?explained.??To be 1/1000th too quick ? I know I?m quick but that kind of sucks.?
Not only did this misstep deny the US a podium sweep, but, it also cost Devon Allen a lifetime opportunity. Fans maintain that, at this point, the rules are punishing gifted athletes rather than protecting the integrity of the sport.
Fans respond to Allen?s disqualification
Not only did this misstep deny the US a podium sweep, but it also cost Devon Allen a lifetime opportunity. Fans maintain that, at this point, the rules are punishing gifted athletes rather than protecting the integrity of the sport.
So enraged fans flocked to Twitter to express their discontent with the outcome, calling out the IAAF for Allen?s unfair disqualification.
Really need to bite my tongue about some the people that craft the rules and policies for track and field. What happened to Devon Allen tonight skewers the growth of the sport and not a single right minded person agrees this should be a rule. Just terrible.
— Jordan Kent (@jordanrkent) July 18, 2022
Even NFL Star Robert Griffin III or RGIII chipped in to say:
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.
pic.twitter.com/03xd3S3JHm— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) July 18, 2022
GET RID OF THE BLOCK SENSORS!
If you start after the gun, you should be able to go. Period.
Now Devon Allen is gonna be DQ’d because of a 0.99 reaction time??
The sensors are ruining some possibly great races since they’ve been in the sport.
— Anson Henry (@ansonhenry) July 18, 2022
It's a brutal rule.
Devon Allen did not move before the gun, but because his reaction time was 1,000th of a second faster than allowed he's out of the final.
He and Holloway moved together to the naked eye, but Allen is DQ'd and Holloway wins gold.
Heartbreaking turn of events
— Reuben Frank (@RoobNBCS) July 18, 2022
Future Philadelphia Eagle, Devon Allen, who had the *Fastest* 110mh time this year was just DQ’d because of this rule. His reaction time: .099! THIS IS RIDICULOUS! Punish athletes for being good. https://t.co/iNnmsM63DL
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) July 18, 2022
A hummingbird flaps its wings approximately 10 times per second. What Devon Allen did was 100 times faster than THAT. And it cost him a shot at a world championship. Pardon the language, but are you flapping kidding me? https://t.co/oJ9w5IuBwZ
— Bill Oram (@billoram) July 18, 2022
Devon Allen was robbed of a once in lifetime opportunity. Disgraceful ruling by IAAF. .001 reaction?!?
— trevor dunbar (@DunbarTrevor) July 18, 2022
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If I weren’t a track and field enthusiast, and I just happened to tune into the world championships, I would have just changed the channel after watching what just happened to Devon Allen. What an embarrassment to the sport.
— Gray Horn (@HornAthletics) July 18, 2022
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Training the whole year to shorten your time on the track from 13 seconds to 12 and then be denied the chance to prove your worth on the world stage is probably unfair to the athletes. And Devon Allen?s faster reaction getting him disqualified perhaps can be taken as an example of why the rules of the game need to evolve to allow the athletes to grow.
