Ja'Kobe Tharp is already causing a sensation at the age of 20. © dyestat

A 20-year-old storms to a world record

Ja'Kobe Tharp set a world record in the 110-meter hurdles at the American College Championships.

June 11, 2026

From: dpa

The 20-year-old ran 12,75 seconds in the semi-final, beating the previous record set by his compatriot Aries Merritt in 2012 by five hundredths of a second.

“I still have more in my legs,” Tharp said after the race in Eugene. He improved his personal best by 26 hundredths of a second. “That wasn’t a perfect race. This round was about getting through, surviving, and advancing.” The final takes place on Friday (local time).

Tharp is the first athlete since Dwight Stones in the high jump 50 years ago to set a world record at the NCAA Championships.