BACK TO BACK NATIONAL TITLES: Auburn's Ja'Kobe Tharp sets new NCAA record winning men's 60-meter hurdles championship
Tharp ran the world's third-fastest time ever, and the best time ever in a collegiate meet, on the way to his second straight 60-meter hurdles title at NCAA Indoor Championships.
Electric again, champion again, Ja’Kobe Tharp set a new NCAA record time in the men’s indoor 60-meter hurdles on Saturday on his way to the national title.
Tharp crossed the line in a searing 7.32. He held off the contest of in-state rising challenger Bradley Franklin of Samford, who entered the weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships with the fastest qualifying time.
“When you put a title on the line for Ja’Kobe, he’s difficult to beat,” Auburn head coach Leroy Burrell said going into the meet — and Tharp rose to the occasion under the bright lights again.
Tharp’s 7.32 is the third-fastest time in world history. Track star Grant Holloway, representing Team USA, rank it in 7.27 in 2024 and Team Great Britain’s Colin Jackson ran it in 7.30 in 1994 — both at the international level and neither in collegiate competition.
The results from Saturday’s final are here:
Watch Tharp’s incredible run here.
Tharp collegiate championships
2025 SEC Indoor Champion (60-meter hurdles)
2025 NCAA Indoor Champion (60-meter hurdles)
2025 NCAA Outdoor Champion (110-meter hurdles)
2026 SEC Indoor Champion (60-meter hurdles)
2026 NCAA Indoor Champion (60-meter hurdles)
A native of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Tharp has his opportunity to become a star for Team USA in the next Olympic cycle leading up to Los Angeles 2028 — but next, Tharp will turn to the outdoor season and look to lay claim to a second consecutive national championship in the 110-meter hurdles.