Vashti Cunningham

Vashti Cunningham
	Cunningham at the 2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	January 18, 1998 (age 23); Las Vegas, Nevada
Height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight	123 lb (56 kg)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	High jump
Club	Nike
Turned pro	2016
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	High jump outdoor: 2.02 m (6 ft 7+1⁄2 in) (Chula Vista 2021); High jump indoor: 2.00 m (6 ft 6+1⁄2 in) (Fayetteville 2021)
hide Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing United States
World Championships
World Indoor Championships
Pan American Junior Championships

Vashti Cunningham (born January 18, 1998)^[2] 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

On April 18, 2015, at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, California, Cunningham jumped 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄4 in),^[5] 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).^[6] 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.^[8] On June 27, 2015 she won the U.S. Junior National Championship.^[9] 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 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
2016	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
2021	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan	6th	High jump	1.96 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
2016	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
2017	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
2018	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
2019	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

^a American junior record

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "Vashti Cunningham". teamusa.org. USOC. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^ [1] Archived April 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
^ "A Gifted High Jumper Gets Set To Leap Onto The World Stage". Npr.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ "Bishop Gorman's Vashti Cunningham turns pro, signs with Nike". Reviewjournal.com. March 21, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ [2] Archived April 27, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
^ "IAAF: High Jump - women - u18 - outdoor - iaaf.org". Iaaf.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ "IAAF: High Jump - women - senior - outdoor - 2015 - iaaf.org". Iaaf.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ [3] Archived October 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Women High Jump JR". Flashresults.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ "Women High Jump". Flashresults.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ "IAAF: Teenage star Cunningham flies high at US Indoor Championships- News - iaaf.org". Iaaf.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
^ Vashti Cunningham, a Nike professional representing the Nevada Gazzelles, won the women's high jump title for the fifth year in a row with a third-attempt clearance at 6-5.50 (1.97m) at the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships at Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico. Cunningham remained undefeated in nine indoor competitions in the U.S. in her career, including four in Albuquerque. She also became the first American female athlete to win the indoor high jump crown five years in a row. DyeStat.com

External links[]

Vashti Cunningham at World Athletics
Vashti Cunningham at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
Olympic hopeful high jumper sets sights on Rio from National Public Radio
USA Indoor Track and Field Championships

[teamusa.org-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "Vashti Cunningham". teamusa.org. USOC. Retrieved June 21, 2021.

[2] [1] Archived April 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

[3] "A Gifted High Jumper Gets Set To Leap Onto The World Stage". Npr.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[4] "Bishop Gorman's Vashti Cunningham turns pro, signs with Nike". Reviewjournal.com. March 21, 2016. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[5] [2] Archived April 27, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

[6] "IAAF: High Jump - women - u18 - outdoor - iaaf.org". Iaaf.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[7] "IAAF: High Jump - women - senior - outdoor - 2015 - iaaf.org". Iaaf.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[8] [3] Archived October 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

[9] "Women High Jump JR". Flashresults.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[10] "Women High Jump". Flashresults.com. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[11] "IAAF: Teenage star Cunningham flies high at US Indoor Championships- News - iaaf.org". Iaaf.org. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

[12] Vashti Cunningham, a Nike professional representing the Nevada Gazzelles, won the women's high jump title for the fifth year in a row with a third-attempt clearance at 6-5.50 (1.97m) at the Toyota USATF Indoor Championships at Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico. Cunningham remained undefeated in nine indoor competitions in the U.S. in her career, including four in Albuquerque. She also became the first American female athlete to win the indoor high jump crown five years in a row. DyeStat.com

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show v t 2016 USA Olympic track and field team
Qualification	2016 United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
Men's track and road athletes	Devon Allen Robby Andrews Ronnie Ash Boris Berian Ben Blankenship Hillary Bor Marvin Bracy Trayvon Bromell Donn Cabral Matthew Centrowitz Jr. Paul Chelimo Kerron Clement Kyle Clemons (r) Christian Coleman (r) Justin Gatlin Tyson Gay (r) Arman Hall (r) Evan Jager Charles Jock Meb Keflezighi Shadrack Kipchirchir Leonard Korir Bernard Lagat Tony McQuay (r) Hassan Mead LaShawn Merritt Clayton Murphy John Nunn Jeff Porter Gil Roberts Byron Robinson Mike Rodgers (r) Galen Rupp Michael Tinsley David Verburg Jared Ward Ameer Webb
Men's field athletes	Bradley Adkins Tavis Bailey Chris Benard Will Claye Ryan Crouser Sam Crouser Logan Cunningham Marquis Dendy Ashton Eaton Andrew Evans Mason Finley Sean Furey Michael Hartfield Jeff Henderson Darrell Hill Cyrus Hostetler Kibwé Johnson Sam Kendricks Joe Kovacs Erik Kynard Jarrion Lawson Conor McCullough Ricky Robertson Cale Simmons Jeremy Taiwo Christian Taylor Rudy Winkler Zach Ziemek
Women's track and road athletes	Morolake Akinosun (r) Nia Ali Tianna Bartoletta Tori Bowie Kristi Castlin Emma Coburn Kim Conley Amy Cragg Abbey D'Agostino Taylor Ellis-Watson (r) Allyson Felix Shalane Flanagan Phyllis Francis Courtney Frerichs English Gardner Kate Grace Marielle Hall Natasha Hastings Shelby Houlihan Molly Huddle Emily Infeld Desiree Linden Brenda Martinez Francena McCorory (r) Sydney McLaughlin Miranda Melville Maria Michta Dalilah Muhammad Courtney Okolo (r) Jenna Prandini Colleen Quigley Brianna Rollins Shannon Rowbury Jenny Simpson Ashley Spencer Deajah Stevens Ariana Washington (r) Chrishuna Williams Ajeé Wilson
Women's field athletes	Whitney Ashley Tianna Bartoletta Gwen Berry Brittany Borman Amber Campbell Kelsey Card Michelle Carter Vashti Cunningham Janay DeLoach Christina Epps Andrea Geubelle Felisha Johnson Chaunté Lowe Maggie Malone Inika McPherson Heather Miller-Koch Sandi Morris Barbara Nwaba Keturah Orji DeAnna Price Brittney Reese Raven Saunders Amanda Smock Jennifer Suhr Shelbi Vaughan Alexis Weeks Kendell Williams Kara Winger
Coaches	(women's assistant coach) (men's assistant coach) Curtis Frye (men's assistant coach) (women's assistant coach) Vin Lananna (men's head coach) (women's assistant coach) Connie Price-Smith (women's head coach) (men's assistant coach) (men's assistant coach) LaTanya Sheffield (women's assistant coach)

show v t US National Championship winners in women's high jump
1923–1979 Amateur Athletic Union	1923: 1924: Not held 1925: 1926–27: 1928: Mildred Wiley 1929–31: Jean Shiley 1932: Jean Shiley & Babe Didrikson 1933: Alice Arden 1934: Not held 1935: Barbara Howe 1936: Annette Rogers 1937–38: 1939–48: Alice Coachman 1949: Gertrude Orr 1950: 1951–52: 1953: Mildred McDaniel 1954: 1955–56: Mildred McDaniel 1957: Verneda Thomas & 1958: & Barbara Brown 1959–61: 1962: (JPN) 1963–67: Eleanor Montgomery 1968: 1969: Eleanor Montgomery 1970: 1971: 1972: Audrey Reid 1973: 1974–77: Joni Huntley 1978: Louise Ritter 1979: Debbie Brill (CAN)
1980–1992 The Athletics Congress	1980: Coleen Sommer 1981: Pam Spencer 1982: Debbie Brill (CAN) 1983: Louise Ritter 1984: Pam Spencer 1985–86: Louise Ritter 1987: Coleen Sommer 1988–89: Jan Wohlschlag 1990–91: Yolanda Henry 1992: Tanya Hughes
1993–present USA Track & Field	1993: Tanya Hughes 1994: Angie Bradburn 1995: Amy Acuff 1996: Tisha Waller 1997: Amy Acuff 1998–99: Tisha Waller 2000: Karol Damon 2001: Amy Acuff 2002: Tisha Waller 2003: Amy Acuff 2004: Tisha Waller 2005: Amy Acuff 2006: Chaunté Howard 2007: Amy Acuff 2008–09: Chaunté Howard 2010: Chaunté Lowe 2011: Brigetta Barrett 2012: Chaunté Lowe 2013: Brigetta Barrett 2014–16: Chaunté Lowe 2017–19: Vashti Cunningham 2021^{2020 OT}: Vashti Cunningham
Notes	OT: Since 1992, championships incorporated the Olympic Trials in Olympic years, otherwise held as a discrete event. 2020 OT: The 2020 Olympic Trials were delayed and held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.