EUGENE, Ore. – Auburn junior Ja’Kobe Tharp delivered one of the most stunning performances in track and field history Wednesday, obliterating the world record in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Tharp, a 20-year-old from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, crossed the finish line in 12.75 seconds during the semifinal round at Hayward Field, shattering the previous world record of 12.80 set by Olympic champion Aries Merritt in 2012 . The performance, achieved with a legal tailwind of 1.0 meters per second, also erased Grant Holloway’s collegiate record of 12.98 from 2019 .
A Historic Moment
The feat marks the first time an athlete has broken a world record at the NCAA outdoor championships in 50 years, since Dwight Stones accomplished the feat in the high jump in 1976 . Tharp improved his personal best by a staggering 0.26 seconds, having entered the meet with a previous best of 13.01.
“I knew I had that in my legs,” Tharp told reporters after the race. “But it wasn’t on my bingo card before this meet, not at all” .
The Auburn star acknowledged the performance wasn’t flawless, noting that the last three hurdles were “kind of iffy” as he approached the line faster than anticipated . He initially thought he might run 12.97 or 12.98 to match the NCAA record.
“To see that … I’m speechless, seriously,” he said .
From Semifinal Sensation to Final Champion
Tharp didn’t stop with the semifinal heroics. On Friday, he returned to the same track to successfully defend his NCAA title in the 110-meter hurdles final, crossing in 12.90 seconds to claim back-to-back outdoor national championships .
“I wanted to come out here, put on a show, run fast, make a statement, show the world that I’m one of the best in the world,” Tharp said following the final. “I think I did my job” .
The victory gave Tharp his fourth career NCAA title—two indoor championships in the 60-meter hurdles (2025, 2026) and two outdoor crowns in the 110-meter hurdles (2025, 2026) . That achievement ties the Auburn program record set by legendary sprinter and former U.S. gold medalist Harvey Glance five decades ago . Tharp will have the opportunity to break that record during his senior season in 2027.
A Season for the Ages
Tharp’s world record caps a remarkable 2026 campaign that has established him as the preeminent hurdler in Auburn history. He swept both SEC and NCAA titles indoors in the 60-meter hurdles and outdoors in the 110-meter hurdles, earning National Indoor Male Track Athlete of the Year honors .
His list of accolades now includes:
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World record holder (110m hurdles, 12.75)
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Two-time NCAA Outdoor champion (110m hurdles)
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Two-time NCAA Indoor champion (60m hurdles)
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2025 USATF National Champion (110m hurdles)
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2025 Bowerman Award Finalist
Tharp’s personal-best 12.75 now stands as the fastest time ever run by any human over the 110-meter hurdles distance. His performance has drawn international attention, with the 2025 World Championships finalist proving he belongs among the sport’s global elite .
Auburn’s Strong Showing in Eugene
Tharp wasn’t the only Tiger to shine at Hayward Field. Junior Kayinsola Ajayi claimed the NCAA title in the 100-meter dash Friday with a wind-aided time of 9.72, adding to his indoor national title in the 60 meters from March . Sophomore Israel Okon finished as runner-up in the 200 meters with a time of 19.99 .
On the women’s side, sophomore Camryn Massey earned All-America honors in the discus throw, finishing 23rd with a throw of 49.90 meters to become Auburn’s first All-American in the event since 2023 .
The Auburn men finished sixth overall in the team standings with 33 points, marking the program’s third consecutive outdoor top-10 finish a feat not accomplished since 1999-2001 .
What’s Next
With his junior season now complete, Tharp has established himself as the prohibitive favorite for the 2026 Bowerman Award, collegiate track and field’s highest individual honor. The Murfreesboro native will return for his senior season in 2027 with an opportunity to break Harvey Glance’s record of four individual NCAA titles and cement his legacy as the greatest sprinter/hurdler in Auburn history.
“I have more in my legs,” Tharp declared Wednesday. “This round was about getting through, surviving and advancing. This [record] is a huge bonus” .
If Wednesday’s semifinal was any indication, the world hasn’t yet seen the best of Ja’Kobe Tharp.
NCAA Outdoor Championships – Auburn Results Summary
Men’s 110m Hurdles: Ja’Kobe Tharp – NATIONAL CHAMPION (12.90 final; World Record 12.75 semifinal)
Men’s 100m: Kayinsola Ajayi – NATIONAL CHAMPION (9.72w)
Men’s 200m: Israel Okon – 2nd place (19.99)
Men’s 4x100m Relay: DNF (after collegiate record in semifinals)
Men’s Team Finish: 6th place (33 points)
Women’s Discus: Camryn Massey – 23rd (49.90m) – All-America honors
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