Cunningham elevates to No. 1 in the world

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Vashti Cunningham walks the halls at Bishop Gorman High just like any other student, wanting to fit in among her friends and peers at the Las Vegas school without any special recognition or acknowledgement.

But the 18-year-old senior appeared comfortable and relaxed while captivating a crowd of more than 5,000 spectators, athletes and coaches Saturday at the USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland.

Cunningham soared to a lifetime-best 6-6.25 (1.99m) on her second attempt, the top indoor high jump in the world this year, to capture the national title and secure a berth on the U.S. roster to compete March 20 at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Portland.

"The crowd support was really good and they were excited from the beginning," Cunningham said. "I'm not used to people being that excited about 5-8 or 5-10, so it was good to have them there."

Cunningham was clean over the bar at her first six heights, including 6-5 (1.96m) to secure the title over Elizabeth Patterson and American indoor record-holder Chaunte Lowe, who both cleared 6-4. Patterson took second on fewer attempts.

After missing on her first try at 6-6.25, Cunningham cleared the bar on the next attempt to not only improve on her national high school indoor standard, but break the World Junior indoor record of 6-5.5 (1.97m) set in 2011 by Russia's Mariya Kuchina, the reigning World indoor champion.

"My mindset going into it was 'This is what I needed to do,' so I didn't really eliminate the possibility of me jumping this high," Cunningham said. "In a way, I knew that I kind of had to do it today."

Cunningham became only the fourth American woman to high jump at least 6-6.25 indoors, joining Tisha Waller, Coleen Sommer and Lowe, who captured the World indoor title in 2012.

"It makes me feel good because I've been looking at these girls from out of the country and our U.S. pros and just hoping one day that I can be up there with them," Cunningham said. "It gives me a lot of confidence that I'm up there now and that I can maintain with the other girls, so I hope to keep doing that well."

Even following her greatest athletic achievements, including indoor and outdoor national high school records in the past year and winning a Pan Am Junior title in Canada in August, Cunningham has kept her emotions in check. For Randall Cunningham and his daughter, Saturday's triumph was definitely a cause for celebration.

"He was very happy," Cunningham said. "Me and him never really show our happiness, but we both did a little bit today."

Cunningham returns home Sunday and will be back attending classes Monday at Bishop Gorman, anticipating not much will change despite the latest historic accomplishment for the 6-foot-1 talent with the rest of the world looking up at her.

"Hopefully it will be the same as when I left," Cunningham said. "I don't really like a lot of the attention on me."

But all eyes will be on what Cunningham does next week in Portland in her pursuit for a World Championship.