Online Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwean Olympian Ken Harnden continues to cement his reputation as one of the most influential sprint and hurdles coaches in world athletics after guiding Auburn University star Ja’Kobe Tharp to a stunning world record performance at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Wednesday.
Tharp, a 20-year-old hurdling sensation from Auburn, Alabama, sent shockwaves through the athletics world when he clocked an incredible 12.75 seconds in the men’s 110m hurdles heats.
In the process he shattered the longstanding world record of 12.80 set by American great Aries Merritt in 2012.
The performance also bettered the previous NCAA record of 12.98 set by reigning Olympic champion Grant Holloway in 2019 and marked the first world record set at the NCAA Championships in 50 years.
Behind the historic achievement stood Harnden, the Zimbabwean coaching mastermind whose impact on collegiate and international athletics continues to grow.
A two-time Olympian in the 400m hurdles for Zimbabwe, Harnden understands better than most what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Since transitioning into coaching, he has built an impressive résumé spanning more than two decades in NCAA Division One athletics and has also coached Zimbabwean athletes based in the United States. — Agencies.
