"I've still got to finish it in two days, so I'm still focused on that."
Baylor University junior Demario Prince secured a spot in Friday's final by finishing second in the same heat behind Tharp, posting a wind-legal season best of 13.15 seconds.
"Obviously, (Sharp) got out," Prince said.
"I didn't think I had my cleanest race, but I just saw him start moving away and tried to chase him.
But when you're chasing a world record, it's very hard. Kudos to him."
Texas junior Kendrick Smallwood won the opening heat in 13.02 seconds, which briefly held the status of the second-fastest time globally this year before Tharp competed.
Prince outlined the standard required to contend for the title.
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"In the back of my mind, I knew it was going to take 12 seconds (under 13) to win this race," he said.
"Obviously, it's 12 seconds already in the semi. In order to win, I have to go after the world record.
So, we'll see how that goes."
Baylor head coach Michael Ford expressed satisfaction with how his athlete managed the high-profile race.
"To be in a world-record race and not get caught up in it, I thought that was great for him," Ford said.
He highlighted specific technical areas where Prince could find additional speed. "I still think he can run faster.
I didn't really like the first hurdle as much.
He came up a little early, popped up a little early, and his trail leg was a little high off hurdle one.
