< PreviousOLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: TRACK & FIELD 101 At just 19 years old, Ja’Kobe Tharp is already carving out a legacy that many take years, some even decades, to build. The Auburn junior hurdler has made a habit of stacking national titles, smashing records and proving himself as one of the best in the 110m hurdles globally. His breakthrough came at the SEC Outdoor Championships where he captured his first conference title in the 110m hurdles. The Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native broke a 46-year-old American Junior (U20) record that day, crossing the line in 13.18. He was Auburn’s first conference title winner in the event since 2008. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, he claimed silver in the 110m hurdles and earned his first First Team All-America honor. The first title of his sophomore campaign came at the SEC Indoor Championships in the 60m hurdles. His winning time of 7.48 marked Auburn’s first conference title in the event since 2008. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, he stormed to victory in the 60m hurdles, breaking his own program record (7.45), which was the eighth fastest time in the world this year. “Winning a national championship means a lot,” Tharp said. “I put in so much work throughout the season. It feels great.” At the SEC Outdoor Championships, he shattered his own school record in the 110m hurdles with a 13.15 en route to silver. He capped his sophomore season with a national title in the 110m hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Racing at historic Hayward Field, Tharp clocked a blistering personal best of 13.05 seconds. It was the fifth-fastest collegiate time ever recorded. In that moment, he not only secured Auburn’s first national champion in the event since 2007 but also stamped his name among the nation’s elite. “I knew I had it in my legs for a while,” he said. “It was just about going out and putting it out there. It’s an unexplainable feeling.” The Tigers left Eugene with their third consecutive team trophy, continuing a run that included a national runner-up finish in 2024 and a third place showing at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships. Recognition followed quickly. He later became Auburn’s first-ever finalist for the Bowerman, track and field’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, after appearing on the Bowerman Watch List nine times throughout his career. One of his most defining moments came at the 2025 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships. Tharp stunned the field with a 13.01 in the 110m hurdles, outrunning a stacked lineup of professionals and punching his ticket to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. “This is unexplainable,” Tharp said. “I finished my NCAA season with a win and now this is a bonus, an extra. My coach and staff have prepared me for this moment. It feels great. I just wanted to focus. My coach always says lock in on what I’m doing and the rest of it will handle itself, so I trusted him.” On the global stage, Tharp once again rose to the occasion. Battling the world’s fastest hurdlers, he finished sixth. It was the best finish ever by an American Auburn student-athlete in an individual event at the World Championships. “It is always a wonderful feeling to win,” Tharp said. “I am relieved after a very long season, and I am truly grateful to display my talent and results of hard work, perseverance and resilience to the world. I do not win alone. I am thankful for everyone who has contributed to my journey including my family, coach and teammates.” OLYMPIC SPORTS UPDATE: TRACK & FIELD BY: MORGYN JONES AUBURNTIGERS.COM CHASING HISTORY, CLEARING BARRIERS: THE RISE OF JA’KOBE THARPAUBURN SPORTS PROPERTIES 103 AUBURNTIGERS.COM Auburn Sports Properties is owned and operated by Playfly, the official worldwide marketer of Auburn University Athletics. Auburn Sports Properties is the exclusive marketer and producer of Auburn sports programming such as the following: n Statewide & Regional Radio Network n Statewide & Regional Television n Stadium & Arena Signage n Publications n Promotional Rights n Coaches Endorsements n Event Marketing & Sponsorship n Digital Strategy The Auburn Sports Network is the radio division of Auburn Sports Properties and provides coverage throughout the state of Alabama and portions of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and Mississippi with its almost 50 station radio network. Fans can also hear the broadcasts nationwide and globally via the Au- burn Tigers gameday app, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and online at www.AuburnTigers.com. For more information on connect- ing your brand with the Auburn Family contact Ben Harling at Ben.Harling@playfly.com TIGER TALK - Hosted by Andy Burcham and Brad Law every Monday from 6-7 p.m. CT, featuring head coach Hugh Freeze as well as other Auburn coaches throughout the season. Submit your questions on X by tagging @AUSportsNetwork. GAMEDAY COVERAGE - Gameday coverage begins three hours before kickoff on the Auburn Sports Network. ANDY BURCHAM Voice of the Auburn Tigers JASON CAMPBELL Color Analyst RONNIE BROWN Sideine Analyst BRET EDDINS Sideline Analyst BRAD LAW Pre/Postgame Host BRIT BOWEN Producer JEFF SHEARER Locker Room Host PATRICK TISDALE Engineer GENE DULANEY Spotter/Stats104 AUBURN SPORTS PROPERTIES AUBURNTIGERS.COM Town ...........................Affiliate .....Frequency Abbeville........................WESZ .................98.7 FM Albany, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Alexander City ............WKGA .................97.5 FM Andalusia .......................WAAO.................93.7 FM Auburn ...........................WGZZ ................94.3 FM Birmingham .................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ................100.5 FM Centre .............................WEIS ...................990 AM Columbus, GA ............WVRK ..............102.9 FM Cullman..........................WKUL .................92.1 FM Demopolis .....................WZNJ ...............106.5 FM Dothan............................WESP ...............102.5 FM Eufaula ...........................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Evergreen .....................WPPG ................101.1 FM Flomaton .......................WPFL ................105.1 FM Florence .........................WMSR ...............94.9 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................92.5 FM Foley ................................WHEP ................1310 AM Fort Payne .....................WZOB ..............1250 AM Gadsden ........................WGAD ...............99.3 FM Gadsden ........................WGAD .............1350 AM Greenville ......................WQZX ................94.3 FM Gulf Shores ...................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Guntersville ..................WTWX ...............95.9 FM Hackleburg ...................WFMH ...............95.5 FM Huntsville ......................WQRV ..............1230 AM Huntsville ......................WQRV ............100.3 FM Jasper ..............................WJBE ..................88.5 FM Macon, GA ....................WVRK ..............102.9 FM Mobile .............................WAVH ..............106.5 FM Montgomery ................WLWI .................92.3 FM Ocean Springs, MS....WAVH ..............106.5 FM Oxford.............................WTDR ................92.7 FM Pensacola, FL ..............WPFL ................105.1 FM Roanoke.........................WELR ...............102.3 FM Scottsboro ....................WWIC ..............1050 AM Selma ..............................WHBB ..............1490 AM Spartanburg, SC .........WASC ..............1530 AM Sylacauga ......................WYEA .............100.3 FM Sylacauga ......................WYEA ...............1290 AM Thomasville ..................WJDB .................95.5 FM Troy ..................................WTBF ..................970 AM Tuscaloosa ....................WJQX ..............100.5 FM Vernon ............................WVSA ..............100.7 FM Vernon ............................WJEC ..............106.5 FM Auburn Mobile App & AuburnTigers.com 2025 AUBURN FOOTBALL RADIO AFFILIATES AUBURN FOOTBALL EVERYDAY SHOW CANNON GAINES Director, Playfly Max JACOB HILLMAN Manager, Partner Services DAVID CZARLINSKY Manager, Member Services & Marketing - Playfly Max KENDRA SHORT Manager, Partner Services TREIS HUGGINS Senior Account Executive BEN HARLING General Manager ASHLEY AARON Director, Partnership Development TELLY STRATAS Director, Partnership Development STEPHANIE SNELL Director, Partner Services The Auburn Football Everyday television show features Coach Hugh Freeze. Check your local listings for show airings. Market ..........................................................................................................................................................Station Alexander City ..............................................................................................................................................................WAXC-TV 3 Auburn/Columbus ................................................................................................................................................WLTZ NBC 38 Birmingham ................................................................................................................................................................WAMB My68 Huntsville .....................................................................................................................................................................WAAY31 ABC Mobile ..........................................................................................................................................................................WJTC UTV-44 Montgomery .............................................................................................................................................................................WCOV Rainsville ....................................................................................................................................................................................FTC TV Regional ......................................................................................................................................................Bally Sports Southeast Auburn Tigers.com, YouTube and WarEagle+Next >