Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Ja’Kobe Tharp, a 20-year-old Auburn student and world finalist, ran 12.75 seconds in the 110m hurdles heats at the NCAA Championships in Eugene. This performance may represent a new world record, pending ratification. Tharp improved on the previous record of 12.80 seconds set by Aries Merritt in 2012 by 0.05 seconds. He started strongly and pulled away over each hurdle, finishing first with a wind assistance of 1.0 m/s.
Tharp’s earlier achievements include winning the world U20 title in 2024, NCAA indoor and outdoor titles in 2025, and the US Championships last year with a personal best of 13.01 seconds. He also finished sixth in the World Championships final. Tharp remains undefeated in individual races this year, including heats, and secured another NCAA indoor title in March with a world-leading 7.32 seconds, ranking him third all-time indoors.
The 110m hurdles final at the NCAA Championships is scheduled for Friday, June 12.