Vashti Cunningham showcased why she’s the best women’s high jumper in the country in May when she leaped a personal best of 6 feet, 7½ inches at the Chula Vista Field Fest. Days leading up to the U.S. Olympic track and field trials, Cunningham envisioned jumping a new personal record.

Cunningham didn’t eclipse her personal best, but a gold medal and trip to Tokyo is a more than worthy consolation prize. The 23-year-old won the women’s high jump at 6-5 to qualify for her second Olympics.

“The final was very exciting for me. I couldn’t stop thinking about it days leading up to it. I was so ready to be there,” Cunningham said. “I didn’t quite jump the height that I wanted to, but I was just happy to go through (and) to win my first trials title.”

At the 2016 trials, the then 18-year-old Cunningham finished second. Five years later, she was the only high jumper to clear 6-5.

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“This meet right here meant a lot to me. I really, really wanted the title in 2016 but I was young and just trying to navigate my way,” Cunningham explained. “So, it really means a lot to me to come here today and get that title.”

Cunningham’s family was at Hayward Field to witness her win the crown. She is coached by her father, former NFL star quarterback Randall Cunningham.

Moments after the event she opened up about winning in front of her coach and father on Father’s Day.

“The feeling is just amazing. I was looking at pictures of us over the years. I sent them to him, and I was like ‘Happy Father’s Day.’ I know that making him happy, makes me feel so good. I was blessed to have my family here and my dad,” Cunningham said. “I’m happy it was on Father’s Day.”

A little over a month from now, Cunningham will try to capture her first Olympic medal. She placed 13th at the 2016 Olympics. She’s confident things will be much different this time around.

Cunningham’s 6 feet, 7½ inches clearance in May is the No.1 mark in the world this year. She didn’t exceed her personal best on Sunday night, but she is in prime position to earn a spot on the podium in Tokyo.

“I do plan on peaking at the Olympics. I’m just waiting on God’s timing,” Cunningham said.

Vashti Cunningham

Medal record World Championships Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn 2019 Doha High jump World Indoor Championships Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn 2016 Portland High jump Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn 2018 Birmingham High jump Pan American Junior Championships Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn 2015 Edmonton High jump

Vashti Cunningham is an American track and field athlete specializing in the high jump. She is the daughter of retired National Football League (NFL) quarterback Randall Cunningham, niece of retired NFL fullback Sam Cunningham, and the younger sister of Randall Cunningham II. Her mother is Felicity de Jager Cunningham a former ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem.  Vashti, like her brother two years ahead of her in school, jumped for Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada until March 2016 when she signed with Nike. She announced she will continue her education at a university while competing as a professional athlete.

On April 18, 2015, at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, Cunningham jumped 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄4 in), to set the new national high school record. At age 17, that was also equal to the No. 4 world Youth mark (under 19 years old). At that date it was the No. 3 mark in the world in 2015.^[7] She was named USATF Athlete of the Week for that performance. On June 27, 2015 she won the U.S. Junior National Championship. A month later at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, she improved again, jumping 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in). That mark equaled the World Youth Best.

On March 12, 2016, Vashti jumped 1.99 m (6 ft 6+1⁄4 in) while winning the 2016 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Portland, Oregon.^[10] The mark established a new World Junior Record. At the time, just one week before the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships, which were held in the same facility in the Portland convention center, Cunningham’s jump was the No. 1 jump in the world in 2016.^[11] Eight days later, she won the World Indoor Championship.

In March 2017, Cunningham jumped 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) to win at 2017 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. On April 15, 2017, Cunningham jumped 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄4 in) to win in Torrance, California at Mt. SAC Relays, two weeks later she jumped 1.95 m (6 ft 4+3⁄4 in) to win at Penn Relays. Cunningham jumped 1.95 m (6 ft 4+3⁄4 in) to place 3rd behind World Champion Mariya Lasitskene on May 27 in Eugene at IAAF Diamond League 2017 Prefontaine Classic. On June 23, Cunningham jumped 1.99 m (6 ft 6+1⁄4 in) to win in 2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Sacramento State University. On July 9, 2017, Cunningham jumped 1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in) to place 2nd at London Müller Anniversary Games. On July 21, 2017, Cunningham jumped 1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in) to place 3rd at IAAF Diamond League 2017 Herculis in Fontvieille, Monaco. On August 12, 2017, Cunningham jumped 1.92 m (6 ft 3+1⁄2 in) to place 10th at World Championships.

On February 18, Cunningham jumped 1.97 m (6 ft 5+1⁄2 in) to win third consecutive high jump indoor title and 4th US senior title at 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On March 1, Cunningham jumped 1.93 m (6 ft 3+3⁄4 in) to place second behind World Champion Mariya Lasitskene in high jump at 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Competition record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing the Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn  United States
2015	Pan American Junior Championships	Edmonton, Alberta	1st	High jump	1.96 m[a]
2016	World Indoor Championships	Portland, Oregon	1st	High jump	1.96 m
	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	13th	High jump	1.88 m
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	10th	High jump	1.92 m
2018	World Indoor Championships	Birmingham, United Kingdom	2nd	High jump	1.93 m
2019	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	3rd	High jump	2.00 m

^a Pan American Junior Championships meet record; World youth best

USA National Championships

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
2016	USA Indoor Track and Field Championships	Portland, Oregon	1st	High jump	1.99 m
	US Olympic Trials	Eugene, Oregon	2nd	High jump	1.97 m[a]
2017	USA Indoor Track and Field Championships	Albuquerque, New Mexico	1st	High jump	1.96 m
	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Sacramento, California	1st	High Jump	1.99 m American Junior Outdoor Record
2018	USA Indoor Track and Field Championships	Albuquerque, New Mexico	1st	High jump	1.97 m
	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Des Moines, Iowa	1st	High Jump	1.95 m
2019	USA Indoor Track and Field Championships	Staten Island, New York	1st	High jump	1.96 m
	USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Des Moines, Iowa	1st	High jump	1.96 m
2020	USA Indoor Track and Field Championships	Albuquerque, New Mexico	1st	High jump	1.97 m[12]
2021	US Olympic Trials	Eugene, Oregon	1st	High jump	1.96 m

Las Vegan Vashti Cunningham qualifies for Tokyo Olympics