Auburn's Ja'Kobe Tharp smashes 110m hurdles world record with 12.75 at NCAA meet, first in 50 years

The record run

During the semifinal round on Day 1 of the NCAA outdoor track and field championships, Auburn junior Ja'Kobe Tharp powered to a time of 12.75 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, shattering the previous world record of 12.80 set by Aries Merritt in 2012. The time, helped by a legal tailwind of +1.0 m/s, also broke Grant Holloway's collegiate record of 12.98 and improved Tharp's personal best by 0.26 seconds from 13.01. Tharp's feat marks the first individual world record set at the NCAA championships in 50 years, since Dwight Stones in the high jump in 1976.

Tharp's reaction

Tharp, 20, expressed shock at his own performance.

I have more in my legs! That was not a picture-perfect race. This round was about getting through, surviving and advancing. This (record) is a huge bonus.

He told reporters that a sub-13-second time was not in his plans:

It wasn't on my bingo chart for this meet, not at all. I'm speechless, seriously.

The result must still be confirmed by World Athletics.

Other Day 1 champions

Five field event finals were also decided. New Mexico's Habtom Samuel won the 10,000 meters, the only track final, in 27:51.31. Angelos Mantzouranis took his first NCAA hammer throw title (248-7), while Nebraska's Dyson Wicker cleared an NCAA-leading 19-2 1/4 in the pole vault. Zaza Nnamdi (javelin, 269-10), Tah Chikomba (long jump, 27-5 1/2) and Ben Smith (shot put, 69-0 1/2) also claimed titles. Smith became Oregon's first NCAA outdoor shot put champion since 1982.

Looking ahead

The men's competition continues Friday at Hayward Field, where Tharp will run in the 110m hurdles final with a chance to repeat as champion.

Ja'Kobe Tharp (2026)

12.75 seconds

Aries Merritt WR (2012)

12.8 seconds

Tharp's PB (2025)

13.01 seconds