World Junior Men — Tharp Hurdles To AJR

LIMA, PERU, August 27–31 — With a record-breaking run in the 110 hurdles, Auburn frosh Ja’Kobe Tharp helped lead the U.S. men to 9 medals at the World U20 (Junior) Championships at the Estadio Atlético de la Videna. The event came on the penultimate day, with Tharp (13.05) and Florida State frosh Andre Korbmacher (13.14) grabbing the top two spots on the podium.

Tharp had run 13.11 in the heats for the No. 2 U.S. performance ever. In the final, his 13.05 gets AJR status, topping the 13.08 that North Carolina prep Wayne Davis ran in 2009. The time also makes Tharp No. 5 all-time on the World Junior list for the 39-inch barriers.

“I knew to get the goal,” said Tharp, “my time was gonna have to be faster and I came out and did that. That’s all I wanted… I came out here to get the gold.”

Florida recruit Vance Nilsson captured the 400 hurdles gold in a PR 49.26, building up a big lead in lane 2 and holding off faster finishers, led by Czechia’s Michal Rada in 49.30.

Gold also went to high jumper Scottie Vines, an Arkansas recruit who PRed with a 7-4½ (2.25) to top Matteo Sioli of Italy, who cleared 7-3¾ (2.23).

Iowa recruit Bryce Ruland surprised many by scoring gold in the discus, hurling the Junior platter out to 205-4 (62.59) on his first effort. The mark makes him No. 6 all-time among U.S. Juniors.

The U.S. 4 x 400 won gold convincingly, the foursome of Jayden Davis, Xavier Donaldson, Alexander Rhodes and Sidi Njie putting together a 3:03.56 to top South Africa by 1.66. The other relays did not go so well for the Americans. In the 4×1, a missed first pass in the heats doomed the team. The mixed relay brought misfortune of another sort, as the U.S. neglected to enter a team.

South Africa’s Bayanda Walaza won a sprint double in 10.19 and 20.52. Another South African, Udeme Okon, won the 400 in 45.69 ahead of Americans Jayden Davis (46.08) and Njie (46.29).

Ethiopians General Berhanu Ayansa (1:46.86) and Abdisa Fayisa (3:40.51) took the 800 and 1500, with Kenya’s Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi (13:41.14) edging Fayisa in the 5000. Impressing most in the distances was Edmund Serem of Kenya. The 16-year-old took the steeple with a strong finish in 8:15.28, pulling clear of teammate Matthew Kosgei (8:17.46) on the final lap. In 6th, Wyatt Haughton moved to No. 2 among…