EUGENE -- Saturday is the last time Oregon fans can watch Devon Allen until the fall, and because his remarkable spring has looked so effortless so far, here's a reminder that what the freshman is accomplishing is, in fact, quite difficult.

To get there, first go back to the spring of 2006 with me. As some readers might know, I graduated from Oregon, and my first two years were spent as a walk-on long jumper on the UO track team. My own two seasons were the definition of forgettable and that's why this isn't about my walk-on long jumping. But a teammate in the 2005-06 season was Eric Mitchum, and his career could be called one of the best ever in a UO singlet. In 2005-06 Mitchum was two years removed from setting the UO 110-meter hurdles school record of 13.38.

Mitchum worked incredibly hard at the 110-meter hurdles at practice, and they were his undisputed craft -- with the exception of a relay here and there, the high hurdles were his only focus. We weren't close, but from across the track it wasn't hard to recognize that his workouts were something only a few could handle.

Because of that, he was the team's most surefire lock to score points at any given meet, on par with pole vaulter Tommy Skipper or distance runner Galen Rupp, who each carried more star power. He went on to race professionally and is in Eugene watching the NCAA championships this week.

That's what has made Allen's spring so eye-opening to me: In only about eight weeks of track and field training -- all while carrying the pressure of spring football in April, where he's become a fan-favorite receiver -- Allen shredded Mitchum's school record in late May's NCAA Preliminary round in Fayetteville, Ark., by running 13.27.

On Thursday, Allen stretched his spring season to its last possible date by qualifying for Saturday's 3:12 p.m. high hurdle final (he could also run the 4x400 relay that day, too).

Mitchum was a future pro whose focus on the track was one of the best on that Oregon team. He spent four years trying to run a wind-legal time that Allen has done in barely a year out of high school. When Allen runs for a possible national championship Saturday keep in mind how hard that is for anyone, let alone a freshman juggling two sports in the same spring.

On to the links:

Another Duck twin football player becomes an ex-Duck, choosing to transfer.

A speech and a discus throw saved Oregon's women's NCAA chances Thursday.

The UO men's NCAA title chances are still good despite a late DQ in the 4x400.

Robert Johnson talks about the transition between him and Vin Lananna.

Video: I joined Ken Goe to discuss the NCAA meet on Thursday.

One star runner might just play spoiler for the Duck men's title hopes.

Astorian Laura Bobek talks about her big discus throw that earned six points.

It was a rough first day at the U.S. Open for a Duck golfer.

-- Andrew Greif | @andrewgreif