Ja'Kobe Tharp Breaks 110m Hurdles World Record in 12.75 at NCAA Championships

Q: Has 20-year-old Ja'Kobe Tharp's record run just signaled the dawn of a new era for the 110m hurdles?

Yes — it strongly suggests a new phase for the 110m hurdles, though one race alone does not settle the sport’s future. Tharp’s 12.75 at Hayward Field is not just a collegiate breakthrough; it is a world record, taking down Aries Merritt’s 12.80 from 2012 and beating Grant Holloway’s collegiate mark of 12.98 by a wide margin. In an event where hundredths usually separate the very best, a five-hundredths improvement on a long-standing world record is significant. So is the context: Tharp is only 20, already an NCAA indoor and outdoor champion, a U20 world gold medalist, and one of the fastest 60m hurdlers in history. What makes this feel like more than a one-off is the broader profile. He did not emerge from nowhere; he had already shown elite sprint-hurdle ability, and Auburn’s sprint program is producing top-end performances across events. That gives weight to the idea that his run reflects a rising standard, not just a perfect day. Still, caution is warranted. His previous best was 13.01, so the jump to 12.75 is enormous by elite hurdling standards. The sport will want to see whether he can repeat something close to this in the NCAA final, at the U.S. championships, and on the global stage against Holloway and other established contenders. So the fairest reading is this: Tharp has not definitively created a new era yet, but he has very likely announced one.

Q: Can Tharp repeat his historic world record performance under the pressure of the NCAA final on Friday?

Yes—he is clearly capable of another elite run on Friday, but matching 12.75 exactly is far less certain. Tharp’s semifinal at Hayward Field was not a fluke in the sense of coming from nowhere. He entered as the reigning NCAA outdoor champion, the 2025 indoor and outdoor NCAA champion, a Bowerman finalist, and a U20 world champion, with strong credentials in the 60m hurdles as well. He said he knew he had “faster than 13” in his legs, and his 12.75 backed that up in dramatic fashion. At the same time, repeating a world-record performance is difficult under any circumstances. His 12.75 was a massive jump from his previous best of 13.01, and world-record races are rarely duplicated two days later. Finals also bring different pressures: tighter competition, the burden of expectation, and the physical challenge of recovering after an all-out semifinal. What looks more likely is that Tharp remains the favorite to win the NCAA title again rather than necessarily re-break the world record. His own comments suggest that is where his focus is. He has emphasized “surviving and advancing,” finishing the job, and defending his championship. So the evidence points to this: Tharp has the form and confidence to produce another exceptional performance in the final, and he should be considered the man to beat. But expecting another 12.75-level race under Friday’s pressure would be asking for something extraordinary even by world-record standards.

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 11

12.75 seconds gave Auburn junior Ja'Kobe Tharp the 110m hurdles world record during NCAA heats in Eugene, Oregon, making the 20-year-old the first athlete to set a world record at the meet in 50 years.
The mark cut 0.05 seconds off Aries Merritt's 12.80 record from 2012 and shattered the collegiate record of 12.98 set by Olympic champion Grant Holloway in 2019.
Tharp had entered the championships with a personal best of 13.01 and said he expected an improvement, but not a drop of more than a quarter-second to a world record.
He races again Friday, seeking to become the first hurdler since Holloway in 2019 to win back-to-back NCAA titles.