The 20-year-old ran in the semifinals in Eugene, Oregon, in 12.75 seconds - 0.05 seconds faster than Aries Merritt's record from 2012 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 said, according to the IOC's website.
It ran pretty fast and I thought I might match my personal best. But seeing it (the record) was "ahhh." I'm speechless, seriously.
Tharp is the first to set a world record during the U.S. college championships since 1976, when high jumper Dwight Stones jumped 2.31 metres.
