Auburn Tigers Men’s Track and Field Team Finishes Fourth Overall as Tharp and 4x100m Relay Capture National Titles

In a thrilling culmination to the collegiate track and field season, the Auburn Tigers men’s team delivered a statement performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, securing a fourth-place finish in the overall team standings. The Tigers racked up points in impressive fashion, headlined by two national championship victories — one by standout sprinter Ja’Kobe Tharp in the 110-meter hurdles and the other by the blazing 4×100-meter relay team that stormed to the title with a commanding performance. It was a showcase of speed, depth, and resilience that firmly reestablished Auburn’s place among the elite programs in the nation.

For a program with a proud history in the sport, the 2025 campaign felt like a resurgence, with Coach Leroy Burrell guiding his squad to their best finish in recent memory. The Tigers ended the meet with 39 points, just behind perennial powers Florida, Arkansas, and Texas Tech. While the margin between first and fourth may seem slim, Auburn’s achievements reverberated far beyond the final scores. They displayed a blend of youth and experience that could signal a new golden era for the program.

Ja’Kobe Tharp’s star was shining all season, but it reached its brightest point under the national spotlight. The sophomore sprinter and hurdler from Birmingham had already built a reputation as a top-tier talent, but his performance in the 110-meter hurdles was nothing short of electric. Tharp got off to a lightning-quick start in the final and never looked back, clearing each hurdle with precision and power. He surged through the finish line with a time of 13.18 seconds, setting a new personal best and cementing his name in Auburn track and field lore.

Tharp’s victory was a testament to his discipline and development under Auburn’s coaching staff. After falling just short of the finals last season, his transformation into a national champion this year was emblematic of the work ethic he and his coaches invested over the offseason. His win marked Auburn’s first individual NCAA title in the hurdles since the early 2000s and underscored the team’s ability to produce top-level talent in technical events.

But Tharp wasn’t the only one to bring home the hardware.

Auburn’s 4×100-meter relay team — made up of Christopher Robinson, Coby McIntyre, Cameron Rose, and Ja’Kobe Tharp anchoring — captured the crowd and the title with a blazing performance that clocked in at 38.15 seconds. It was a clinic in handoffs and acceleration, with each leg of the race building perfectly on the last. Robinson’s explosive start set the tone, McIntyre’s second leg maintained the momentum, Rose powered through the curve, and Tharp closed with his signature burst, crossing the finish line just fractions of a second ahead of the stacked Florida and Houston squads.

Their victory was Auburn’s first NCAA championship in the 4x100m relay since 2008 and represented a return to dominance in sprint relays. The cohesion among the quartet was evident from the preliminary rounds, and their execution in the final was flawless. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement to every other sprinting program in the country.

Coach Burrell praised the relay team’s chemistry after the race: “These guys bought into the plan from day one. They trusted each other, they trained together, and when it was time to perform, they didn’t blink. That’s the essence of championship culture.”

The two national titles alone would have made for a successful meet, but Auburn’s overall depth was just as important to its top-four team finish. In the 400 meters, senior Cameron Rose finished fifth with a season-best time of 44.89 seconds, earning valuable points for the team and solidifying his status as one of the best quarter-milers in the country. Rose, who also contributed to the relay win, displayed veteran leadership throughout the meet and was instrumental in keeping the younger athletes focused under pressure.

In the field events, Auburn’s presence was felt as well. Junior long jumper Elijah Underwood leapt to a sixth-place finish with a mark of 7.91 meters, setting a personal record in the process. While he narrowly missed the podium, his breakthrough performance bodes well for Auburn’s future in the jumps.

Likewise, freshman hammer thrower Marcus Dial showed immense promise by finishing eighth in his NCAA Championships debut. His consistency and poise stood out in a deep and experienced field, and his development under Auburn’s throws coach suggests the Tigers will continue scoring in the throws for years to come.

Despite these successes, Auburn also had its share of heartbreaks — none more notable than senior sprinter Dorian Colbert’s stumble in the 200-meter semifinal, which cost him a spot in the final after a promising start to the season. Yet even in disappointment, Colbert’s mentorship of the younger athletes throughout the year was a key factor in the team’s overall cohesion and performance.

The fourth-place team finish marks Auburn’s highest NCAA Outdoor Championships result since 2008, when they finished third. In a sport where depth, consistency, and peaking at the right time are paramount, Auburn checked every box. Their balanced contributions across sprints, hurdles, relays, jumps, and throws reflect a comprehensive program firing on all cylinders.

Beyond the scoreboard, this performance represents a pivotal moment for Auburn’s track and field identity. In recent years, the program has been in a rebuilding phase, working diligently to recruit elite talent and modernize its training methodologies. Coach Burrell, now in his third season, has made culture and consistency a priority. His emphasis on accountability and attention to detail have started to bear fruit, as evidenced by the Tigers’ newfound prominence on the national stage.

The broader SEC narrative also benefited from Auburn’s rise. With Florida winning the team title and Arkansas finishing second, the conference once again showed it is the deepest and most competitive in collegiate track and field. Auburn’s success adds another powerhouse to that mix, which could create more epic matchups in the seasons to come.

Looking ahead, the Tigers’ future appears even brighter. With Tharp only a sophomore and key relay contributors like McIntyre and Robinson also returning, the core of this year’s success will remain intact. Add to that a promising 2025 recruiting class and Auburn’s upward trajectory becomes hard to ignore.

For Auburn fans, this meet wasn’t just about medals or trophies — it was about belief. It was a chance to see their school compete on the highest stage, not just as participants, but as contenders. It reignited the passion of a fanbase that has always supported its athletes but now has tangible reasons to dream of championships.

The post-meet celebrations were heartfelt, but they were also filled with a sense of unfinished business. Coach Burrell made it clear that the goal isn’t just to be among the best, but to be the best. “We’re building something here,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”

As the team returns to Auburn, they’ll carry with them not just medals, but momentum — the kind that can redefine a program and inspire a generation. In a season that demanded excellence, Auburn answered the call with poise, power, and pride. And as they look toward next year, the message is loud and clear: Auburn is back, and the Tigers are ready to roar even louder.