Allen Heads to Austin, Aims for History
6/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Jen Allen is no historian, but she can see what's at stake during her trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday.
"I think some of her legacy is yet to be written," MSU coach Dale Kennedy says, "but there's no question she is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, thrower in the history of our women's program."
Nothing less than Allen's legacy will be at stake on Thursday afternoon at the University of Texas, when Allen competes in the hammer throw. She is the first MSU woman thrower in an event other than the javelin to compete at the outdoor national meet in 22 years, and will be attempting to become the first female thrower in school history to capture All-America honors.
With all of that staring her in the face, Allen can't help but think about her place in MSU history. "I think about it a little bit lately," she said. "I've had to look back because there have been some applications and things I've needed to fill out. I definitely feel that I could have done more early on in my career."
There will be no arguments about what she's done lately. Allen is a 13-time all-conference choice, and eight-time All-Big Sky Academic selection, and a two-time US Track and Field Coaches Association Academic All-Scholar. She owns the MSU record in every event in which she competes, and has won four Big Sky titles.
As Kennedy says, though, some success in the national championship meet would cement her legacy. "Jen has a rare opportunity this weekend to do something no one at this school has done," he said. "She is a special athlete."
Allen said that the NCAA meet is one of singular magnitude, so the experience of competing at the NCAA meet last year and in the national championships last year is valuable, she says. "I feel I'm way more prepared for the meet this year," she said. "Last year I was blown away by the level of competition and the size of the meet. This year we went to bigger meets, and I feel a lot more comfortable."
Allen will compete Thursday afternoon, and if she qualifies in the hammer throw finals on Saturday.
"I think some of her legacy is yet to be written," MSU coach Dale Kennedy says, "but there's no question she is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, thrower in the history of our women's program."
Nothing less than Allen's legacy will be at stake on Thursday afternoon at the University of Texas, when Allen competes in the hammer throw. She is the first MSU woman thrower in an event other than the javelin to compete at the outdoor national meet in 22 years, and will be attempting to become the first female thrower in school history to capture All-America honors.
With all of that staring her in the face, Allen can't help but think about her place in MSU history. "I think about it a little bit lately," she said. "I've had to look back because there have been some applications and things I've needed to fill out. I definitely feel that I could have done more early on in my career."
There will be no arguments about what she's done lately. Allen is a 13-time all-conference choice, and eight-time All-Big Sky Academic selection, and a two-time US Track and Field Coaches Association Academic All-Scholar. She owns the MSU record in every event in which she competes, and has won four Big Sky titles.
As Kennedy says, though, some success in the national championship meet would cement her legacy. "Jen has a rare opportunity this weekend to do something no one at this school has done," he said. "She is a special athlete."
Allen said that the NCAA meet is one of singular magnitude, so the experience of competing at the NCAA meet last year and in the national championships last year is valuable, she says. "I feel I'm way more prepared for the meet this year," she said. "Last year I was blown away by the level of competition and the size of the meet. This year we went to bigger meets, and I feel a lot more comfortable."
Allen will compete Thursday afternoon, and if she qualifies in the hammer throw finals on Saturday.
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