The athletic performance of the Cunningham family continues on.
First it was Sam “Bam” Cunningham running over Alabama, leading to a movement to recruit Black players into the SEC. Then Randall Cunningham amazed crowds at UNLV before electrifying the fans in the NFL. Now a new Cunningham has stepped in the limelight, but its not on that type of field.
Vashti Cunningham of Biship Gorman high school, and daughter of the aforementioned Randall Cunningham, destroyed her own national high school high jump record by clearing 6 feet, 6 1/4 inches (1.99 meters) at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Portland, Ore.
Cunningham also now owns a world juniors record and is now the highest jumper in the world so far this year.
Vashti Cunningham, 18 and daughter of Randall, breaks world junior indoor high jump record. Dad/coach is there. pic.twitter.com/0jcVrUDMJZ
Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) March 13, 2016
She continues to surpass the competition and record books. Last year she broke her own national high jump record, established the American Junior record and tied the World Youth record of 6-5 in the high jump at the Pan Am Junior Championships in Edmonton.
Most expect to see her in the Olympics in Rio this summer and then has to decide between college and the pros.
Over the last year and a half, she is the best female high jumper in the country, USA Track and Field High Jump Chair Dave Kerin told The Washington Post recently. That includes former international medalists. Shes number one until somebody knocks her off. Thats outrageous at her age.
People will talk about a great football player and call him once-in-a-decade. She is once-in-a-lifetime right now until the next one comes along. Shes literally beyond people weve come across in the history of the event. I dont throw around faint praise.
The Cunningham name lives on in the field, track and field that is.
