Ja'Kobe Tharp won the men's 110m hurdles with a time of 12.85 seconds [1] at the István Gyulai Memorial in Budapest.
As the concluding stop of the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour, the event served as the final opportunity for elite hurdle talent to showcase their speed before the season ended [2]. The meet highlighted the top competitors in the world, providing a definitive ranking for the year's hurdle disciplines [1].
The competition took place at the National Athletics Centre on June 15, 2026 [2]. The final day of the memorial featured a quartet of high-stakes hurdle events: the men's 110m hurdles, women's 100m hurdles, men's 400m hurdles, and women's 400m hurdles [3].
Tharp's performance in the 110m hurdles stood out as a highlight of the day. He recorded a time of 12.85 seconds [1], marking a significant milestone in his career.
"I felt great out there, everything clicked and I was able to run a personal best," Tharp said [1].
The event organizers emphasized the importance of the gathering for the international athletics community. Maria Kovács, the Meet Director, said the organization was thrilled to host the season-ending hurdle finals in Budapest and to see such a high-quality field [2].
Because the meet functioned as a season finale, the pressure on the athletes was heightened. The four hurdle finals provided a comprehensive look at the current state of sprint hurdling across both genders and distances [3]. The atmosphere at the National Athletics Centre reflected the stakes of the Continental Tour Gold finale, a culmination of months of international competition [2].
“"I felt great out there, everything clicked and I was able to run a personal best."”
The conclusion of the 2026 World Athletics Continental Tour in Budapest establishes the final performance benchmarks for hurdle athletes this season. Tharp's personal best of 12.85 seconds positions him as a top contender heading into future championship cycles, while the concentration of four major hurdle finals in one venue provides a rare, direct comparison of global talent across different hurdle distances.
