Athletics: Ja’Kobe Tharp sets blistering new 110m hurdles world record – “I’m speechless, seriously”
Auburn’s Ja’Kobe Tharp rewrote the record books at Hayward Field on Wednesday (10 June), clocking a new world record* of 12.75 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles semi-finals at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
His lightning-fast time broke the long-standing men’s 110m hurdles world record of 12.80 seconds that was set by Olympic champion Aries Merritt in 2012.
Team USA’s World under-20 champion Tharp is now the fastest man in history over the 110m hurdles, delivering one of the most remarkable performances in North American collegiate athletics to thunderous applause from the crowd.
A gob-smacked Tharp seemed stunned as he realized his world record feat. He previously sat 32nd all-time in the event, with a personal best of 13.01 seconds set at Hayward Field in August 2025.
The confident hurdler spoke with reporters following the race, admitting that while he believed a breakthrough performance was possible, a world record was not something he had anticipated.
“I knew I had that in my legs,” he said. “But it wasn’t on my bingo card before this meet, not at all.”
Reflecting on the race, Tharp said he knew he was moving fast, but didn’t realize just how fast he was running until he crossed the finish line.
“I was going pretty fast. The last three hurdles were kind of iffy. I was like, ‘Whoa, I’m coming up kind of fast.’ I thought maybe 12.97 or 12.98, and match the speed record. But to see that, it was like, ‘Ahhhh.’ I’m speechless, seriously.”
Asked whether he sensed something special was unfolding during the race, Tharp replied.
“It felt fast, but all my races feel fast, to be honest.”
While a world record wasn’t planned, Tharp said, “I really wanted to make a statement today, I really honed in on execution—surviving and advancing. But today I really wanted to send that message that I’m here and they gotta come see me.”
Despite becoming the fastest 110m hurdler in history, and with the next Olympic Games taking place on his home soil at LA28, Tharp remained focused on the task still ahead in the final.
“I’m trying to focus on what’s here in front of me. I’ve still got to finish it in two days, so I’m still focused on that.”
He’ll return to Hayward Field on Friday (12 June), seeking to defend his NCAA outdoor title. Should he succeed, he’ll become the first athlete since Olympic champion Grant Holloway in 2019 to complete back-to-back NCAA hurdle sweeps.
*Tharp’s time is subject to World Athletics’ ratification procedures for world records.
