Hurdles record holder Tharp claims first win as professional in Budapest / Photo: Attila KISBENEDEK - AFP
Hurdles record holder Tharp claims first win as professional in Budapest
New world record holder Ja’Kobe Tharp impressed on Tuesday by blazing to a 12.85sec clocking in the 110m hurdles at the Budapest meet, even though he eased up in the final metres.
The 20-year-old American, who stunned the track and field world last month by breaking the long-standing world record in the event with a 12.75 run in the NCAA collegiate championships heats, claimed his first victory on the professional circuit in emphatic fashion.
Quickly out in front, Tharp even allowed himself to slow a few metres before the line yet still crossed in 12.85, the second-fastest time in the world this year behind his own world record.
He finished ahead of teammates Jamal Britt (13.01) and Cordell Tinch (13.06).
The Budapest meet also saw another win for pole vault world record holder Armand Duplantis, who cleared 6.07m before narrowly missing another world record with a failed attempt at 6.32m.
Olympic champions Masai Russell and Julien Alfred also won in their respective events.
Russell clocked 12.33 in the 100m hurdles for the former while Alfred posted 10.87 in claiming the women'ss 100m.
B.Bertrand--JdCdC
