Sam Allen of Bristow, Oklahoma, became a national track star during his years at OBU. In 1934 he won the 120-yard high hurdles at the Kansas and Drake Relays, tying the meet record at both; placed fourth in the National Collegiate Meet (schools of all sizes) in Los Angeles; and finished third in the National AAU meet in Milwaukee.

In 1935 Allen won the 120 high hurdles at the National Collegiate Meet in Los Angeles; the Texas Relays with a meet record 14.3; the Kansas Relays (14.5); and the Drake Relays, tying his meet record (14.4).

In 1936 he won the high hurdles at the Fort Worth Recreational Meet and at the Texas and Kansas Relays, and he established a world-record time in the 60-yard high hurdles in the Millrose Games in New York City. Allen also won the 60 high hurdles at the San Francisco Meet and the 70 high hurdles at the Madison Square Garden AAU Meet in New York.

Allen barely missed qualifying for the 1936 U.S. Olympic Team. In 1937, he established a world-record time of 5.7 seconds in the 45 indoor high hurdles at the Boston Gardens, and he won the 65 high hurdles at the National AAU Meet in New York.

Allen was honored as a member of the Helms National Track and Field Hall of Fame and the Drake Relays Hall of Fame.

He coached the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens for five years and then served as a music evangelist.

Allen is deceased.