Ja’Kobe Tharp sets 110m hurdles world record at NCAA championships
Auburn junior Ja’Kobe Tharp has broken the men’s 110m hurdles world record by running a blistering 12.75 seconds during the NCAA championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The defending champion surpassed the long-standing global mark of 12.80 seconds set by fellow American Aries Merritt in September 2012.
In an astonishing display during Wednesday’s semi-final race, the collegiate star shaved a massive 0.26 seconds off his previous personal best.
He becomes the first individual athlete to break a world record at the NCAA outdoor track and field event since high jumper Dwight Stones achieved the feat 50 years ago.
A historic milestone at Hayward Field
Despite making international athletics history, the lightning-fast hurdler insisted his primary focus was merely securing qualification for Friday’s final.
“I’m speechless. I didn’t mean to.”
The history-maker explained in a university press release that a deliberate training strategy helped him peak at exactly the right moment.
“I knew going into this meet I would be in really good shape because we started deloading to hit my peak into this meet. It was about executing and doing it.”
‘I have more in my legs’
Merritt’s previous benchmark had seemed virtually untouchable for over a decade before this incredible run at the iconic Hayward Field venue.
However, the victorious student-athlete confidently told broadcasters immediately after crossing the finish line that he felt capable of going even quicker.
“I knew what I was capable of. I knew I had something faster than 13.0 in my legs.”