EUGENE, Oregon — Auburn junior Ja’Kobe Tharp cemented his name in the history books Wednesday by breaking the world record in men’s 110m hurdles by running 12.75 in the semifinal round during day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. He became the first individual Dwight Stone in the high jump 50 years ago to break a world record at the national championships.
“I’m speechless. I didn’t mean to,” Tharp said. “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’m always only focused on me. I knew what I was capable of. I knew I had something faster than 13.0 in my legs.”
Tharp’s performance the highlight of a historic day for Auburn track and field. Less than an hour earlier, the men’s 4x100m relay broke the collegiate record running 37.75, 15 hundredths faster than the previous time of 37.90 set by LSU in 2023.
The quartet of Azeemi Fahmi, Kayinsola Ajayi, Austin Kresley, and Tyler Davis cruised to victory and will look to win Auburn’s third consecutive national title in the event on Friday. Auburn now owns four of the 10 fastest collegiate times ever in the event, including two ran this year.
Ajayi and teammates Israel Okon and Omari Lewis advanced to the finals of the 100m dash as Ajayi ran 9.94 to post the top time heading into Friday. Okon ran 10.07 to finish fourth and earn an automatic qualifier while Lewis secured the second of three non-automatic times, running 10.13.
Okon ran 20.07 to easily win his heat and earn an automatic bid to the finals while posting the second fastest prelims time. He is the first Auburn athlete since 2012 to final at NCAAs in both the 100 and 200.
Senior Devin Nugent ran 49.47 in the 400m hurdles to secure his first trip to the finals at NCAAs in the event.
The Auburn women will take the stage on Thursday with four field athletes in action and the 4x100m relay. Freshman Norah Lind will start the day off at 2:30 p.m. PT in the hammer throw.
NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
EUGENE, OREGON
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
DAY 1
Men’s 4x100m Relay
1. Auburn 37.75 Q, CR, SR
Azeemi Fahmi, Kayinsola Ajayi, Austin Kresley, Tyler Davis
Men’s 110m Hurdles Semifinals
1. Ja’Kobe Tharp 12.75 Q,WR, CR, MR, CL, PR
Men’s 100m Semifinals
1. Kayinsola Ajayi 9.94 Q
4. Israel Okon 10.07 Q
8. Omari Lewis 10.13 q
17. Azeem Fahmi 10.21
18. Tyler Davis 10.21
Men’s 400m Hurdles Semifinals
9. Devin Nugent 49.47 q
Men’s 200m Semifinals
2. Israel Okon 20.07 Q