EUGENE, Ore. — Auburn juniors Ja’Kobe Tharp and Kayinsola Ajayi each won national championships in the 110m hurdles and 100m, respectively, during day three of the NCAA Outdoor Championships Friday at Hayward Field.
Tharp, who repeated as champion in the event, won his fourth national title, while Ajayi won his second after winning the 60m dash indoors in March.
Auburn finished sixth in the team title with 33 points. It was the program’s third consecutive outdoor top 10 finish, equaling the feat accomplished from 1999-2001.
It was a historic week for Tharp who broke the world record on Wednesday, turning around to run another sub-13-second race Friday.
“It’s almost like a dream,” Tharp said. “I didn’t wake up Wednesday thinking I’m going to break the world record today. I knew I was going to go out there and run fast. That’s crazy. I wanted to come out here, put on a show, run fast, make a statement, show the world that I’m one of the best in the world. I think I did my job.”
Tharp’s four national titles, two outdoors and two indoors, all consecutively, equaled Harvey Glance’s from five decades ago.
“It means a lot to know that I’m a big part of Auburn history,” Tharp said. “I’m glad I could be a part of it. I hope I can keep it going.”
Tharp displayed mental toughness, maintaining his focus after the whirlwind of attention that followed his world record of 12.75 two days earlier.
“Honing in on what makes me great, focusing on my execution on the front half and the back half,” he said. “Today I was probably 70 percent execution and 30 percent trying to run fast, which was not the best thing to do at this stage like this, but a win is a win. When I’m really focused on execution, 12.75 happens. When I’m trying to run fast, bad things happen. Of course, it wasn’t a bad thing because I won. I wanted the collegiate record, and I wanted to win to help my team push for this team title run.”
Ajayi, who won gold at the 2026 indoor championships, pulled away in the last half of the race to win in a wind-aided time of 9.72. It was redemption for the Nigerian after finishing third as a freshman and fourth last year in the event.
“My coach told me, ‘Ajayi, don’t worry about the 4 by 100, you win some and lose some. Just go out there and do what you have to do,’” Ajayi said. “I stuck to the plan. I didn’t care about the time; I only cared about the win. That’s Auburn for you.”
Auburn’s hopes for a team trophy were dashed in the opening event when the 4x100m relay did not finish. After breaking a collegiate record in Thursday’s semifinals, a dropped baton between the third and fourth legs doomed the Tigers.
Sophomore Israel Okon, who pulled up late in the 100m to finish ninth, had a gutsy performance in the 200m, finishing second in 19.99, his best performance at the NCAA championships.
Faced with the difficult challenge of running out of lane one, senior Devin Nugent finished fifth in the men’s 400m hurdles, crossing in 49.50 to earn first team All-America honors.
Senior Omari Lewis, making his first NCAA Championship appearance, was eighth in the 100m crossing in 10.07.
In the discus throw, junior Seth Allen was 15th overall while sophomore Kai Twaddle-Dunham was 21st. Allen’s best mark was 58.83m/193-0 for his best of three showings at outdoor nationals, while Twaddle-Dunham, making his NCAA debut, had a best throw of 55.48m/182-0.
Auburn will conclude the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday as sophomore Camryn Massey will compete in the women’s discus throw at 11:30 a.m. PT.
NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
EUGENE, OREGON
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
DAY 3
Men’s Discus Final
15. Seth Allen 58.83m/193-0
23. Kai Twaddle-Dunham 55.48m/182-0
Men’s 4x100m Relay Final
Auburn DNF
Azeem Fahmi, Kayinsola Ajayi, Austin Kresley, Tyler Davis
Men’s 110m Hurdles Final
- Ja’Kobe Tharp 12.90
Men’s 100m Final
1. Kayinsola Ajayi 9.72 (w)
8. Omari Lewis 10.07 (w)
9. Israel Okon 10.12 (w)
Men’s 400m Hurdles Final
- Devin Nugent 49.50
Men’s 200m Final
- Israel Okon 19.99