The 20-year-old ran in the semifinals of the 110 meters in Eugene, Oregon, in 12.75 seconds - 0.05 seconds faster than Aries Merritt's 2012 record and 0.26 seconds faster than his personal best.
"I knew I had it in my bones, but I didn't think it would happen here," he says, according to the IOC's website.
"I thought maybe 12.97, 12.98 and match the championship record. But to see the world record - wow, I'm speechless, seriously."
Tharp is the first to set a world record during the US college championships since 1976, when high jumper Dwight Stones jumped 2.31 metres.
Corrected version: In previous versions, the wrong number was given in the distance, the correct one is 110 meters. Also, inaccuracies regarding records in quotes.
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