Auburn JaKobe Tharp sets 110m hurdles world record at NCAA

Auburn University hurdler JaKobe Tharp shattered the 110-meter hurdles world record on Wednesday, clocking 12.75 seconds in the semifinals at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The 20-year-old junior eclipsed the previous mark of 12.80 seconds set by fellow American Aries Merritt in 2012.

Tharp’s performance, achieved with a legal tailwind of one meter per second, also demolished the collegiate record of 12.98 seconds held by Grant Holloway. He improved his personal best by more than a quarter of a second. The historic run makes Tharp the first athlete in five decades to set a world record at the NCAA championships, a feat last accomplished by high jumper Dwight Stones in 1976.

After the race, Tharp expressed astonishment at his achievement. He said he knew he was capable of a fast time but did not anticipate a world record. He described the final three hurdles as feeling "iffy" and said he was surprised by his speed. Tharp added that his focus remains on defending his NCAA title in the final scheduled for Friday. A victory would make him the first men’s sprint hurdler since Holloway in 2019 to win consecutive collegiate championships.