Auburn junior hurdler Ja’Kobe Tharp and assistant head coach Ken Harnden were named the national indoor male track athlete of the year and indoor male assistant coach of the year, respectively, by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Mar. 23.
The recognition highlights significant achievements for both individuals during the recent indoor season. Tharp becomes only the fourth Auburn athlete to earn this honor from USTFCCCA, joining a select group that includes Cory Martin, who last won it in 2008. Harnden receives his fourth consecutive men’s national assistant coach of the year award from the association.
Tharp, who is from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, captured his third NCAA individual title by winning the men’s 60-meter hurdles in Fayetteville, Arkansas two weeks ago. He set a collegiate and meet record with a time of 7.32 seconds—making him the second fastest American ever and third fastest worldwide in that event. Tharp also holds SEC Indoor Champion status and previously secured NCAA outdoor (2024) and NCAA indoor (2025) titles.
Harnden coached both Tharp and teammate Kayinsola Ajayi to Southeastern Conference (SEC) and NCAA indoor titles this past season. Both athletes set collegiate and NCAA meet records in their respective events last week. Ajayi won gold in the men’s 60-meter dash as Auburn finished tied for fourth place in team standings; all 24 points came from Harnden’s sprint squad.
The continued success under Harnden’s guidance demonstrates Auburn’s growing prominence at national track competitions.
